“People cannot understand the inexplicable infatuation this city council has with the idea of a data center.”
That was the message from Allen Prather as he and more than 60 Coweta residents gathered Monday night for a heated public forum on the Project Atlas data center proposed by Beale Infrastructure.
Some in the crowd held signs and wore T-shirts speaking declaring their opposition to council approval of the data center. After hearing an earful from people in attendance, city officials tabled discussions on the plan until February.
“I’d like to congratulate the city council for the opportunity that you all have this evening to repair your public image. Right now, it stinks,” Prather said.
He and others also called for the removal of Coweta City Manager Julie Casteen, who has worked closely with Beale on planning for Project Atlas. She declined to comment to the Flyer.
Concerns have been centered around a lack of transparency and the city’s agreement to pay $50,000 to a law firm to handle legal aspects of planning and zoning for Project Atlas. Braden Rowland questioned whether that’s been a violation of residents’ rights protected by the state’s constitution.
“People can’t be deprived of their rights or property according to due process of law,” Rowland said. “So what process are you guys doing to determine the use of this land?”
Coweta City Attorney Patrick Boulden defended the city’s actions, saying “I don’t know of any circumstances where they have ever gone over people’s rights.”
Boulden said “case law allows the use of public funds for economic development” since it’s for a public purpose. The city’s planning commission has not reviewed the case yet, he added.
State Rep. Mark Chapman, a Republican whose district includes Coweta, told the Flyer he sees tax revenue benefits in data centers. But, he said, city officials should listen to the community’s concerns. He says the forum was “democracy in action” and possibly put the “brakes” on the project.
“There are a lot of reasons people don’t want this and maybe this is not the best time and place,” Chapman said. “But people need to engage and the city council does have the people’s best interest at heart. I fully believe that.”
Developer Beale Infrastructure first contacted Coweta officials in May 2024 and later purchased 200 acres, making it the second of its two projects being built in the Tulsa metropolitan area.
The developer held a community open house for Coweta residents in October, but has since delayed several meetings amid resident complaints.
In December, Beale held a meeting with the Coweta Chamber of Commerce to address plans for the center and what impacts it would have on the community. A December letter from Casteen details the city’s expectation that the data center will generate close to $3 million in revenue for Coweta Public Schools due to tax agreements once fully operational.
Project Atlas must still go before the city’s planning commission Jan. 19, with another city council meeting set for Feb. 2.
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