Tell Farmington City Staff and Leaders:
Put HYPERSCALE DATA CENTERS in their place! NOT in RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS!
Background and Lawsuit:
The CRDCD-Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development (neighbors in Farmington and Castle Rock Township) quickly realized that Tract’s Farmington Technology Park was a massive hyperscale data center that will seriously impact the lives of residents that were not included in the process. A project of this scale will alter the environment, safety, character and future of our entire community. After CRDCD exhaustive efforts to persuade the city of Farmington to deny or take a pause on the Tract hyperscale data center, the city of Farmington disregarded the orderly annexation agreement with Castle Rock Township and rezoned the land for the proposed data center and then approved the project in November of 2024.
The CRDCD filed and lawsuit in December 2024 and the Castle Rock Township also filed a lawsuit in January of 2025. The 2 lawsuits are separate with separate legal firms.
The City of Farmington, TRACT and ISD #192 have filed a motion to dismiss twice since then and twice a judge has rejected their claim and responded that our claim has merit.
The main legal claims outlined in this filing are:
Breach of Contract (Count I): The City of Farmington allegedly violated the Orderly Annexation Agreement (OAA) with Castle Rock Township by rezoning the Sbject Property without the Township's consent and failing to engage in the required dispute resolution process.
Declaratory Judgment under Minn. Stat. Ch. 555 (Count II): Plaintiffs seek a declaration that the City of Farmington’s rezoning of the Subject Property is prohibited by the OAA and is arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable, and unlawful.
Judicial Review of Zoning Decision under Minn. Stat. § 462.361 (Count III): Plaintiffs argue that the City’s zoning determination was inappropriate for the proposed Data Center's scale and use, violated the OAA, and was arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable, and unlawful. They seek to reverse the zoning determination and declare the ordinance void.
Declaratory Judgment under the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act (MERA) (Count IV): Plaintiffs allege that the Data Center project will pollute, impair, or destroy natural resources protected under MERA and seek a declaration that the project violates MERA.
Injunctive Relief under MERA (Count V): Plaintiffs request temporary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent the Data Center project from proceeding until compliance with MERA is demonstrated.
How can you help?
We appreciate your recognition and support for this awful dark cloud hanging over the Farmington area. Our Coalition members and neighbors have raised just over $120,000. in the last year and a half. It has already been reduced to $2000. All funds raised have gone to organizational fees and legal expenses. We are all volunteers with no paid staff. NOW is the time we need the communities support to raise another $120,000 for the next year’s legal expenses. Please consider a financial contribution – there are different ways to give. Cash, Check, PayPal, and Venmo. More information is available by calling our treasurer who can help you navigate the way you would like to give. Denise: 1-612-868-4004.
Other ways to support our community in this fight:
1. Display a yard sign (minimum suggested donation $20) Call Cathy Johnson at 1-612-414-2944
2. Host a neighborhood meeting. Please email info@datacenterresponsibility.com with your intent, address and suggested date/time.
3. Contact city of Farmington staff and elected leaders to express your opposition. Phone numbers and emails can be found at: www.farmingtonmn.gov
4. Join our Bike Ride for Responsibility, October 3, 2026. Bring your family to ride on the beautiful Cannon Valley Trail, getting pledges from family and friends. Or support a rider/team. More information: cathyperegrino@gmail.com
Do you need more information about hyperscale data centers and info from across the USA?
All of these fights, protests and discussion have exploded since we filed our law suit over 18 months ago. Other neighborhoods and communities are also experiencing environmental and political stress over the existing and proposed data centers in their communities. Our website shares many articles and research about the harms and risks and the lack of local, state, and federal policies and laws to provide oversight and safety for these projects.
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