SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A judge has found Sangamon County had an open process in determining whether a zoning change to allow CyrusOne to build a data center near Waverly. People who live near the proposed site sued both the company and the county.

“It was very thoroughly debated in the public realm,” Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance CEO Ryan McCrady told the WTAX Morning Newswatch. There were “almost, I think nineteen and a half hours of public hearings, which was good. I’m glad they went through that process, because that’s what makes a difference at this point, in case someone challenges it, you want to be sure you have a good process and a fair process, and it appears the court agreed with that.”

McCrady says CyrusOne did not pause its progress as the lawsuit made its way through its early phases.

“The county staff has been working with CyrusOne to review the plans and prepare for building permit issuance, going through their due diligence,” said McCrady. “The approval by the county board is a conditional permitted use, and now the developer has to meet all those conditions before they can get started and actually get a building permit, and that’s the review that is going on right now.”