Apple Valley Planning Commission Recommends Denial of Proposed Data Center Project During Wednesday Meeting
Published: March 20, 2026.
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - A major proposed data center development in Apple Valley took a significant step toward rejection Wednesday night, as the Planning Commission recommended denial of key components of the Apple Valley Technology Parkproject following a continued public hearing.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at the Apple Valley Municipal Center, marks the latest development in a months-long review process involving a large-scale proposal by Oppidan Investment Company in partnership with property owner Rockport, LLC.
Commission Recommends Denial
After revisiting the proposal, the Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of:
The Preliminary Plat for the development
The Site Plan and Building Permit Authorization
The Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is required for data center operations
These recommendations now move to the Apple Valley City Council, which is expected to take final action at its meeting on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Rezoning Application Withdrawn
A key shift in the project came earlier this month with the withdrawal of the rezoning request, which had been central to the proposal.
March 6, 2026: The applicant formally withdrew its request to rezone the property from “SG” (Sand and Gravel) to “MUBC” (Mixed-Use Business Campus)
March 10, 2026: The property owner, Rockport, LLC, submitted a letter withdrawing consent for the rezoning entirely
As a result, the rezoning is no longer under consideration and requires no action from the Planning Commission.
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Previously Denied
The project had already faced a major setback earlier this year.
During a January 22, 2026, meeting, the Apple Valley City Council unanimously denied a requested Comprehensive Plan Amendment submitted by Rockport, LLC.
City officials determined the proposal was not consistent with the city’s existing Comprehensive Plan or zoning code, effectively limiting the path forward for the development in its current form.
Project Overview
The proposed Apple Valley Technology Park would be located within the AVR, Inc. sand and gravel mining site at 15255 Johnny Cake Ridge Road.
Plans called for a multi-phase development featuring:
Seven buildings total
Five large data center facilities
Additional support buildings
Approximately 1.05 million square feet of total space
The project has been under review since early 2025, when the Planning Commission held a public hearing and tabled the proposal due to site concerns and pending land use decisions.
Provided by the City of Apple Valley, MN - February 5th, 2025 Planning Committee meeting.
Developer Responds to Process
During Wednesday’s meeting, Pete Carbono, representing Oppidan Investment Company, addressed the commission and spoke about the company’s approach to development. Carbono described the process surrounding the Apple Valley proposal as “atypical,” noting that the company typically relies on ongoing feedback from city staff, officials, and the community throughout the review process. According to Carbono, the developer felt it did not receive sufficient feedback in this case, limiting its ability to refine the proposal or provide additional supporting data.
He also emphasized that Oppidan has experience developing data centers across the country, including a current project in Eagan - a 155,400 square-foot data center at the former Thomson Reuters campus - and maintains that a data center would be an appropriate use for the site.
What Happens Next
While the Planning Commission’s vote is a key step, it isnot final. The Apple Valley City Council will have the final say when it considers the project and the commission’s recommendations at its March 26, 2026, meeting.
The proposed development has drawn significant public interest due to its size and potential long-term impact on land use, infrastructure, and surrounding neighborhoods.
With a final decision expected next week, the future of one of Apple Valley’s largest proposed developments now rests with the City Council.
The proposed site for the Technology Park.
Written by: Will Wight
