De Soto reviewing site application for what could be city's second data center project

DE SOTO, Kan. — KSHB 41 reporter Elyse Schoenig covers Johnson County. She also focuses on issues surrounding the cost of healthcare, saving for retirement and personal debt. Share your story idea with Elyse.

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Digital Realty submitted a site plan application for its data center campus to De Soto, according to a city spokesperson.

The spokesperson also told KSHB 41's Elyse Schoenig this is "the next step in the development review process." The application is under staff review and is currently expected to be considered by the Planning Commission in August.

There is no city council vote scheduled on the project.

"If the project moves forward, and the applicant requests incentives or enters into a development agreement with the city, those items would come before the council at a future public meeting,” the city spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also said it's too early to discuss terms of a potential development agreement.

Digital Realty is holding a community information session in De Soto from 5–7 p.m. Thursday at Cause Coffee, 33180 W. 83rd St.

A June city council memo details Digital Realty's purchase of 1,435 acres of land within Astra Enterprise Park "with the intention of developing one or more data center campuses."

This comes as a group of De Soto residents has been fighting for more protection against data centers. They want more rules on data center development and are petitioning for a moratorium.

"It's not human nature to be constantly combative. It is very tiring," said resident Toni Caldwell.

Elyse Schoenig / KSHB

Digital Realty would be the second data center project to come to De Soto. Schoenig also heard questions and concerns this summer on Beale Infrastructure's data center project in De Soto. Beale's development agreement has already been approved, and construction has already started.
  
"We were all left blindsided," said Sara VanDeCreek, who lives in De Soto.

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VanDeCreek and Caldwell said those concerns range from environmental and financial to transparency.

Beale Infrastructure's project has more than doubled in size from when it was first introduced to the public. Schoenig brought those concerns to De Soto City Administrator Mike Brungardt last week.

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"They were clear that that was a preliminary layout and that this was a general plan," Brungardt said. "And nowhere in our development agreement, the legal binding agreement that we approved back in August of 2025, does [it] not limit building size."

Brungardt also said because the data center project fit within how the land was already zoned, the change in size did not need to come to full council for approval after it passed the planning commission.

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