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Data Center Buffer at 1,500 Feet Anchors Aurora Council Vote Statistics
Council records show exact distances, dollar caps and election timelines that define recent local policy moves on infrastructure and government structure.
How we reported this
The Aurora City Council approved an ordinance that sets the strictest data center rules in the state by requiring sound, noise and water studies plus a 1,500-foot separation between new generators and homes.
Data Center Rules Carry Precise Distances
That 1,500-foot generator buffer stands as the clearest numeric requirement in the new ordinance. The measure also demands three separate technical studies before any new facility can proceed. Council action on the rules followed months of review and places Aurora ahead of other Illinois cities on data center siting standards.
The same body deadlocked on March 10, 2026, during an ethics reform vote. A motion to protect the existing $1,500 political contribution cap ended in a 6-6 tie and failed to advance. The tie vote left the cap unchanged for the time being.
Fiber Losses and Referendum Dates Add More Figures
City financial records show the middle-mile fiber network has run since 2013 with OnLight Aurora as the non-profit partner. OnLight has posted consistent losses even after the city directed millions of dollars into the operation. Those ongoing contributions continue without a reported turnaround in the partner’s balance sheet.
Separately, 5th Ward Alderman Carl Franco is preparing a referendum for the April 2027 election. The measure would replace the current mayor-led model with a city manager structure. Franco’s coordination effort sets a concrete ballot date that voters can now track.
The city has also posted a request for professional engineering consultants to handle Phase III Construction Engineering Services on a federal resurfacing project. That procurement step follows standard federal project sequencing and carries its own schedule tied to the resurfacing timeline.
Residents seeking the full text of the data center ordinance can review the council meeting video posted online. The March 10 tie vote appears in the official meeting records. The April 2027 referendum process will follow standard petition and certification steps already used for prior ballot measures.