A legal battle is unfolding in Independence over a massive proposed data center project, as construction moves forward and arguments play out in court.The facility, described as an “AI factory,” is planned for 400 acres near Highway 78 and Little Blue Parkway. Dirt grading is already underway at the site.At the same time, a group of residents is pushing for a public vote on the project.“We believe that we can do a referendum. And we heard both sides of the argument tonight, and we hope that we have a favorable judgment,” said Rachel Gonzalez, who is leading the citizen referendum effort and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit.Gonzalez said organizers have gathered about 2,200 of the 3,700 signatures needed to force a vote, with around 100 volunteers continuing to collect signatures across the city.“We have so many people across Independence, across political parties that are passionate about this project and want to have a say,” Gonzalez said.The dispute centers on how city ordinances take effect. Some go into effect immediately, while others have a 10-day delay that allows residents to challenge them.Arguments in court have focused on specific language in the city charter, including punctuation, that opponents say gives residents the right to seek a referendum.Attorneys representing the city disagree.“I don’t think that courts are allowed to re-write the law,” said Chuck Hatfield, an attorney with the Stinson law firm.Hatfield argued the ordinance approving the project is final and backed by long-standing legal precedent across Missouri.“The developers who put hundreds of millions, in this case, billions of dollars into an economic development project need the certainty to know that that project is really going to occur, and not that they have to wait for several months on another vote,” Hatfield said.A Jackson County Circuit Court judge is expected to issue a ruling on the case.
A legal battle is unfolding in Independence over a massive proposed data center project, as construction moves forward and arguments play out in court.
The facility, described as an “AI factory,” is planned for 400 acres near Highway 78 and Little Blue Parkway. Dirt grading is already underway at the site.
At the same time, a group of residents is pushing for a public vote on the project.
“We believe that we can do a referendum. And we heard both sides of the argument tonight, and we hope that we have a favorable judgment,” said Rachel Gonzalez, who is leading the citizen referendum effort and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Gonzalez said organizers have gathered about 2,200 of the 3,700 signatures needed to force a vote, with around 100 volunteers continuing to collect signatures across the city.
“We have so many people across Independence, across political parties that are passionate about this project and want to have a say,” Gonzalez said.
The dispute centers on how city ordinances take effect.
Some go into effect immediately, while others have a 10-day delay that allows residents to challenge them.
Arguments in court have focused on specific language in the city charter, including punctuation, that opponents say gives residents the right to seek a referendum.
Attorneys representing the city disagree.
“I don’t think that courts are allowed to re-write the law,” said Chuck Hatfield, an attorney with the Stinson law firm.
Hatfield argued the ordinance approving the project is final and backed by long-standing legal precedent across Missouri.
“The developers who put hundreds of millions, in this case, billions of dollars into an economic development project need the certainty to know that that project is really going to occur, and not that they have to wait for several months on another vote,” Hatfield said.
A Jackson County Circuit Court judge is expected to issue a ruling on the case.