Apple Valley City Council Rejects Oppidan's Proposed 300MW Data Center Campus

Apple Valley City Council Rejects Oppidan's Proposed 300MW Data Center Campus

March 30, 2026

A major data center development planned for the Minneapolis metropolitan area has been halted after local authorities denied the necessary permits. The decision underscores the growing tension between the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure and local community planning priorities, particularly in regions adjacent to established data center hubs.

The Apple Valley City Council voted on Thursday, March 26, to reject the site plan, preliminary plan, and a conditional use permit for a proposed data center campus. The vote followed the prior recommendation of the city's planning commission, bringing to a close a year-long application process. The project, a joint venture between Minnesota-based real estate developer Oppidan and site owner Rockport LLC, was first proposed in February 2025.

The envisioned "Apple Valley Technology Park" was planned for a 134-acre parcel of land located between Flagstaff Avenue, 150th Street, and Pilot Knob Road. The campus was to consist of five buildings totaling 1.05 million square feet, with a projected power capacity of 250 to 300 megawatts. However, the developers faced consistent regulatory hurdles, including a failure to secure a comprehensive plan amendment in January 2026. Oppidan ultimately withdrew its rezoning application earlier in March, preceding the council's final denial.

This rejection represents a significant setback for Oppidan, a firm active in data center development since 2016 with projects in several U.S. states. The company is concurrently constructing a 61,000-square-foot facility in nearby Eagan. For the broader industry, the case highlights the potential for local opposition to delay or derail large-scale infrastructure projects, even in markets like Minnesota that are considered major data center destinations. It serves as a reminder that securing state-level incentives does not automatically override local zoning and community concerns.

Source: datacenterdynamics