Port Washington Neighbors File Complaint Over $15B Data Center Approval

Residents claim city violated open meeting laws, but officials deny accusations as "blatantly inaccurate"

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A local group called Great Lakes Neighbors United has filed a complaint alleging that the city of Port Washington violated open meetings laws when approving a $15 billion data center development. The group claims the Port Washington Common Council improperly met in closed session to discuss the development agreement before it was made public and approved in August 2025. However, the city has strongly denied the accusations, calling them "blatantly inaccurate" and suggesting the group's complaint contains false information.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions between local governments and community groups over major development projects, with accusations of transparency violations raising concerns about public trust and the integrity of the approval process. The outcome could set precedents around open meetings requirements, especially for high-stakes economic development deals negotiated behind closed doors.

The details

According to the complaint filed by Great Lakes Neighbors United, the Port Washington Common Council went into closed session to discuss the data center development agreement on two occasions last summer - on July 1 and August 6 - before the agreement was publicly approved on August 20. The group is seeking to have the development agreement voided due to these alleged violations. However, the city has strongly pushed back, accusing the group of making "basic factual errors" and suggesting the complaint may contain "false information" that could constitute a "potential criminal violation."

  • The Port Washington Common Council allegedly discussed the data center development agreement in closed sessions on July 1, 2025 and August 6, 2025.
  • The development agreement was publicly approved by the Common Council on August 20, 2025.

The players

Great Lakes Neighbors United

A local community group that has filed a complaint alleging the city of Port Washington violated open meetings laws in approving a $15 billion data center development.

Port Washington Common Council

The local governing body that allegedly met in closed sessions to discuss the data center development agreement before publicly approving it.

Lori Travis

A lifelong Port Washington resident who served on the local school board in the 1980s and believes the community group should have gotten involved earlier in the process.

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What they’re saying

“Any board I've been on, you have closed session for certain topics, but I know that the plans, everything was out there. Where were they when the meetings were first held? I don't know if the mayor and the Common Council were having secret meetings; if they were, it's too late anyhow.”

— Lori Travis, Lifelong Port Washington Resident (TMJ4)

“Inaccuracies in this complaint are so blatant and easily disproven that we wonder whether they are simply the result of sloppy work, or committed on purpose to continue pushing false narratives. Knowingly signing a complaint that contains false information is a potential criminal violation.”

— City of Port Washington (TMJ4)

What’s next

The district attorney will have 20 days to review the complaint filed by Great Lakes Neighbors United before the group can proceed with filing a lawsuit against the city.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing challenges communities face in balancing economic development priorities with transparency and public input, especially for high-profile projects like large-scale data centers. The outcome could set important precedents around open meetings requirements for local governments negotiating major deals behind closed doors.