Lexington Residents Protested Proposed Data Center
Community members gathered at Green Acres Park to express concerns regarding a new DartPoints facility.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Data Centers
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Lexington residents held a rally to oppose a data center project proposed for the former Lexmark campus off New Circle Road. The developer, DartPoints, plans to initially utilize 20 to 30 megawatts of power for the site.
Why it matters
Local opposition stems from fears regarding the facility's high water usage, potential for rising utility bills, and increased traffic in the area. Mayor Linda Gorton noted that city officials did not receive advance notice of the real estate transaction.
The proposed facility will require 20 to 30 megawatts of electricity initially, with design plans that allow for an expansion to 70 megawatts. The site is located at the former Lexmark campus off New Circle Road.
The players
DartPoints
This is the data center developer that purchased a portion of the former Lexmark campus.
Linda Gorton
She serves as the Mayor of Lexington and stated that the city received no advance notice of the land sale.
Lexington Urban County Council
This is the legislative body managing the public hearing process for the proposed development.
The details
DartPoints intends to transform the former Lexmark campus into a data center hub, though residents living within two miles have organized community meetings to voice their disapproval. City officials are now preparing for a public input session as they navigate the project's impact during an active development moratorium.
Timeline
September 27, 2026: Residents held a community rally near Green Acres Park.
October 6, 2026: The Committee of the Whole will hold a public input session at 5:30 p.m.
October 31, 2026: The city's current development moratorium is scheduled to expire.
The Tech Race
Data center expansion often clashes with local infrastructure limits, mirroring trends where municipalities use zoning laws to manage the rapid growth of digital storage hubs. The proposed project must navigate the constraints of Lexington's city development moratorium, which limits new construction until its scheduled expiration.
Residents living near the site may face concerns regarding potential increases in local utility bills and traffic congestion. The upcoming public hearing offers community members a formal venue to provide input on how this infrastructure project might affect their neighborhoods.
The takeaway
Large-scale tech infrastructure projects often trigger significant public oversight due to their substantial resource requirements. Residents in affected areas can influence the approval process by participating in scheduled municipal hearings.
What happens next
The Urban County Council Committee of the Whole is scheduled to host a public input session at City Hall on October 6, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Further reading
For additional context on the local industry, visit the Data Centers section.
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Should residents have final approval over large-scale industrial developments in their immediate neighborhood?
