Zoning Board Advances Proposed Data Center Near Waverly

Conditional permitted use recommendation moves project to county board for final approval.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Sangamon County Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-0 to recommend a conditional permitted use for a proposed data center near the town of Waverly, Illinois. The decision came despite concerns raised by local residents about the project's environmental impact and incomplete application details.

Why it matters

The data center proposal has faced opposition from some community members who are worried about its potential environmental effects and the lack of specifics in the application. The zoning board's recommendation now sends the project to the Sangamon County Board for final approval.

The details

During the zoning board meeting, local attorney Kyle Barry, representing CyrusOne, the company proposing the data center, argued that the focus should be on whether the application meets legal standards, not on debating the merits of data centers in general. However, resident Lori McKiernan raised concerns that the application lacks details on land reclamation and restoration plans in case of closure or bankruptcy, as well as specifics on required emergency equipment. A CyrusOne representative acknowledged the data center would use about as much water as 15 houses.

  • The Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-0 on February 19, 2026 to recommend the conditional permitted use.
  • The Sangamon County Board is scheduled to meet on March 23, 2026 to consider the zoning board's recommendation.

The players

Sangamon County Zoning Board of Appeals

The local zoning board that voted 5-0 to recommend a conditional permitted use for the proposed data center project.

Kyle Barry

A local attorney representing CyrusOne, the company proposing the data center.

Lori McKiernan

A local resident who raised concerns about the data center application's lack of details on land reclamation and emergency equipment plans.

CyrusOne

The company proposing to build the data center near Waverly, Illinois.

Sangamon County Board

The county governing body that will make the final decision on the data center proposal after receiving the zoning board's recommendation.

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What they’re saying

“This is not a debate about data centers. The question that's on the agenda and on the table is whether the petitioner's application meets the standards and applicable laws.”

— Kyle Barry, Attorney representing CyrusOne (capitolcitynow.com)

“There's no protection for reclaiming or restoring the land in case of closure or bankruptcy. The application does not guarantee that CyrusOne will purchase the required EMS equipment. The application does say that the octave band measures and standards will be determined later. That should be in the application.”

— Lori McKiernan, Local resident (capitolcitynow.com)

“The data center will use about as much water as fifteen houses.”

— CyrusOne representative (capitolcitynow.com)

What’s next

The Sangamon County Board will meet on March 23, 2026 to consider the zoning board's recommendation and make a final decision on the data center proposal.

The takeaway

The zoning board's recommendation advances the data center proposal, but concerns remain about its environmental impact and the completeness of the application. The final decision now rests with the Sangamon County Board, which will need to weigh the project's potential benefits against the community's concerns.