Bristol Residents Oppose Rezoning
Published: Friday, July 17, 2026
The Elkhart County plan commission last Thursday voted to give the Bristol town council a negative recommendation for the rezoning of property for a possible data center.
During the five-hour meeting in Goshen, residents voiced concerns about the potential impacts a data center might have on the community. Some of those concerns include consistent noise, increased traffic, declining property values and environmental impacts.
The land in question involves two family trusts, one of which was rezoned in 2024 from agriculture (A-1) to manufacturing (M-1) to accommodate a data center. Plans for that project didn't materialize. However, the Bristol town council now wants to create a "Bristol Innovation Park," located southwest of the city, that would encompass both family trusts.
Earlier this year, the city considered annexing land involved in the second trust. However, that land has not been annexed or rezoned, and the city currently doesn't have a buyer for that property.
Although the county plan commission voted to recommend denial of the rezoning, the final vote belongs to the Bristol town council. The council's next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 6.
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