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A coalition of Chelsea Glen and Kissing Camels-area residents, organized through Integrity Matters, today filed a formal appeal with the City Planning Commission challenging the administrative approval of Project Taurus — Raeden's proposed conversion of the former Intel semiconductor facility at 1565/1615 High Tech Way into a 24/7 hyperscale AI data center. The appeal (City File No. DEPN-26-0039) was filed before the City's 5:00 p.m. deadline under Unified Development Code § 7.5.415.
The appeal does not rest on opinion or sentiment. Every one of its seven grounds is anchored to the City's and the applicant's own documents — the stamped approval plans, the noise study, the decision memorandum, and records obtained through the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). Read the Appeal here.
What the appeal argues
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50 megawatts in public, far more on paper. City planners were told the facility would draw roughly 50 MW. The applicant's own confidential planning document, prepared for Colorado Springs Utilities, describes building out up to 300 MW of Critical Power (420 MW Gross) "to fully utilize all the space and resources at 1615." The City's own stamped mechanical sheet (M201) depicts a 100 MW design — twice the figure every City finding relied on. City approved 100MW, 72 chillers and 60 generators not 50MW, 36 chillers and 30 chillers as was promoted. The project's mechanical equipment was not quantified in the development plan until the Third Submittal of May 27, 2026. Neither the First Submittal (March 17, 2026) nor the Second Submittal (April 22, 2026) included the Mechanical Design which states any chiller, generator, or megawatt quantities; both directed the reader to Sheet SL2, which carried none. Sheet M201 — the first sheet to specify the equipment (72 air-cooled chillers, 60 generators, and two 50 MW data halls totaling 100 MW) — entered the record only on May 27, 2026. Both noticed neighborhood meetings (April 7 and May 14, 2026), and the bulk of the public-comment record, therefore preceded any quantified disclosure of the equipment the facility would actually run. Nor were the technical analyses aligned to that sheet: the noise study (DLAA Rev C, May 29, 2026) was premised on 36 chillers and 30 generators, and the water, electrical, air-emission, and heat-island analyses were premised on a ~50 MW load — half the 100 MW the approved M201 depicts. The studies the approval relies on, and the public process that informed it, thus could not have assessed the mechanical design the City ultimately approved.
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The wrong process. The City classified Project Taurus as a Major Modification but approved it administratively — through staff sign-off — rather than referring it to the Planning Commission at a public hearing, as the Code requires for a project of this scale.
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A noise study that left out the deepest sound. The analysis the City relied on excludes the low-frequency "rumble" band that travels farthest and passes through walls, applied light-industrial noise limits instead of the residential limits that protect the neighborhood, and required no post-construction verification.
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No comparison to what was there before. The City never weighed the round-the-clock industrial use — 30 diesel generators and dozens of air-cooled chillers behind 33- and 45-foot sound walls — against the quiet "walkable campus" the site was approved for, and required no wildlife study for the adjacent Garden of the Gods corridor.
The appellants ask the Planning Commission to reverse the approval and require the project to be reviewed through the correct public process, with enforceable conditions established on the record.
A 14-year-old's records request helped crack the case open
A pivotal document in the appeal — the applicant's "1615 Garden of The Gods – Power Overview and Approach," which lays out the up-to-420 MW build-out — reached the community because of a CORA request filed by Kyle McGuffey, a 14-year-old Colorado Springs student who will enter high school next year. Over several months, Kyle attended meetings, reviewed technical filings, and submitted public-records requests entirely on his own initiative. The records he surfaced became central evidence in Ground 5 of the appeal.
"Kyle did what a 14-year-old shouldn't have had to do — he pried loose the document that showed the gap between what the public was told and what was on paper. It was spectacular work, and it changed this case." — Dana Duggan, President, Integrity Matters. More disturbing, the President of Raeden questioned his legitimacy and accused Ms. Duggan of "catfishing" him. Mr. Guffey handled it with wisdom beyond his years.
Broad community support
The appeal is brought by 33 appellants with legal standing, joined by 32 additional supporting community members — 65 neighbors named in all — and backed by a citizen petition to the Mayor and City Council that had gathered 5,349 signatures as of June 22. Lead appellants are Katherine Kent and Ron Graham-Becker of Chelsea Glen. The appeal was prepared with pro bono legal counsel from Katherine Gayle.
The coalition also recognizes the Historic Neighborhoods Partnership (HNP), which — representing an estimated 15,000 homes across the city's established and historic neighborhoods — submitted its own community position paper to the record. "We are grateful to HNP for standing with the neighborhoods closest to this site," the coalition said.
What's next
We are waiting to hear the date for the Appeal. Check back. Under the UDC, a perfected appeal stays the decision while the matter is pending.
Project Taurus Data Center Proposal
Colorado Springs Planning Department Administratively Approves Raeden Data Center on Garden of the Gods
For months, we have been working alongside residents of Chelsea Glen and Kissing Camels to get the scientific proof that no harm will be inflicted on the nearby humans and wildlife in whose habitat Raeden is trying to profit. We have been unhappy with the sound studies and remain unconvinced by the data. We have requested that data be provided and were surprised that this administrative approval occurred without it. We have also asked for a term sheet that includes explicit sound monitoring stations, standards for the noise generating machines on site, the generators and chillers, that will be in covenants that go with the land and include neighbors having seats on the voting committee that governs such safety controls. We have not received that either.
We are waiting on a response from Raeden. If we do not received one, then we will file an appeal to the Planning Commission who we expect to approve it, probably unanimously, then we would appeal it to the City Council who we expect will also approve it; the last option would be to file a legal appeal to the 4th Judicial Court. We are preparing for all paths. If you live within 3 miles of the facility and want your name on the Appeal, please email your name and address to integritymatterscos@gmail.com. It's important that any appeals files are done so in an organized fashion. Kat Gayle, the Chief Legal Counsel of Integrity Matters, will be the one who approves the language.
Now would be the time to give so that we have the resources needed to do all of the work.
Chelsea Glen
Raeden Data Center
Raeden Data Center
Chelsea Glen
Kissing Camels
Bighorn Sheep Habitat
Raeden Data Center
Chelsea Glen
1565 - 1625 High Tech Way, Garden of the Gods Rd
🚨 Stop the Noise Before It Starts — Sign the Moratorium Petition
A data center is being proposed at the same site where residents endured years of nonstop noise and no enforcement. We’re asking the City to pause (moratorium) on all data centers until impacts on noise, water, fire risk, and neighborhoods are fully understood.
👉 Sign the petition — it takes 10 seconds: https://c.org/Dyms2SyQ6f
⚠️Concerns
🏭The scale, permanence, and continuous operation of data centers demand a level of scrutiny consistent with other major industrial developments, not fast-track approval based primarily on the developer’s own reporting. This zoning was originally approved when expected operations were 9 to 5, and does not take into account the 24/7 operations of data centers. This raises fundamental land-use compatibility concerns. Other concerns include:
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Regulation and land use have not caught up to data center technology or 24/7 use
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No studies have been done by the City on the impacts of data centers of the health of residents, energy prices, and environment of our neighborhoods
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The City is rushing into this project without adequate research or planning
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The City did not effectively regulate the last data company at this location
💪 States, cities, and towns across the United States are pushing back against data centers based on studies and concerns that are coming to light including:
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🚩Detrimental health impacts including respiratory issues and premature death
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🚩Energy use and significant energy price increases for residential rate payers
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🚩Water consumption
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🚩Noise from continuous operations
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🚩Low frequency and infranoise
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🚩Environmental impacts of these projects on local communities
🚨 More than 30 states, many localities, and Congress are considering legislation to regulate or pause data center construction. Many developers are rushing to get permits approved and construction started before these bills pass so their projects can be “grandfathered in” to exempt them from any new laws. Raeden, for example, has been building infrastructure and purchasing energy for this unapproved project.
🔊 The developers say that their operation will be virtually noiseless and have no environmental or energy concerns. If this was possible, communities across the country would not be dealing with tripled utility prices, noise ranging between 55 to 90 decibels from external cooling fans and systems, heat islands, and industrial droning that can be heard miles away, and significant air quality issues. Local governments are taking the time to truly understand the risks of these projects, including the City of Gibraltar, Michigan, location of another proposed Raeden facility.
⚠️ Comments received from the developers on Project Taurus:
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Downplay environmental concerns
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Do not mention light pollution concerns
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Downplay the use of hazardous materials including glycol in cooling systems
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Do not account for fine particulate matter produced by diesel generators
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Do not fully address noise concerns or differences in elevation between areas studies were done and local neighborhoods
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Do not account for infrasound, vibration, or low hertz noise
The City must approach this project with more caution. At the last project meeting, the venture capital-funded Raeden developers were unprepared for the hundreds of residents who came out to support the community. Concerned neighbors were given slick marketing answers that did not address real concerns, and in the first session were told there is no way to stop the data center project. Clearly, they don’t know the people of Colorado Springs. As a responsible community, we will not join the stampede for “the next new thing” without careful deliberation.
📢 Take Action
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Send comments to Daniel.Sexton@coloradosprings.gov and Austin.Cooper@coloradosprings.gov
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✅ Sign this petition
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📬 Stay informed through Integrity Matters, www.integritymatterscos.org or on Facebook.
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⚖️ Support the legal defense fund to ensure independent review and accountability or donate to Integrity Matters who will be leading that legal defense.
Why This Matters
Colorado Springs has both the authority and the obligation to ensure that development decisions protect the public health, safety, and welfare of its residents. This decision sets a precedent. Once built, the impacts of this project are permanent and irreversible.
📢 COMMUNITY ALERT: Proposed Data Center – “Project Taurus”
Location: 1565–1625 High Tech Way (Garden of the Gods Rd)
City Case: DEPN-26-0039
You can read and/or download updated comments and documents from the City here.
📣 TAKE ACTION NOW
✉️ COPY & PASTE SAMPLE EMAIL TO COS CITY
IMPORTANT Note: it's important to copy us and the media for transparency.
TO: yemi.mobolade@coloradosprings.gov, allcouncil@coloradosprings.gov
CC: integritymatterscos@gmail.com, pam.zubeck@pikespeakbulletin.org, info@pikespeakbulletin.org, brennen.kauffman@gazette.com, alex.edwards@gazette.com, news@krdo.com, news@fox21news.com, news@koaa.com, news@kktv.com, talkshow@aol.com, newsroom@denverpost.com, achalfin@krcc.org, bheaney@cprmail.org, oliviaprentzel@coloradosun.com, tips@thefp.com, mkemp@earthjustice.org, daniel.sexton@coloradosprings.gov, austin.cooper@coloradosprings.gov, alasyn.zimmerman@koaa.com, lynda.zamorawilson.senate@coleg.gov, larry.liston.senate@coleg.gov,
tony.exum.senate@coleg.gov, marc.snyder.senate@coleg.gov, rod.pelton.senate@coleg.gov, ava.flanell.house@coleg.gov, scott.bottoms.house@coleg.gov, rebecca.keltie.house@coleg.gov,
regina.english.house@coleg.gov, amy.paschal.house@coleg.gov, jarvis.caldwell.house@coleg.gov, mary.bradfield.house@coleg.gov, ken.degraaf.house@coleg.gov, chris.richardson.house@coleg.gov
Dear Mayor Mobolade and Members of City Council,
We are residents of Colorado Springs writing to request that approval for any data centers
currently in development or proposed be paused until independent, third-party analysis is
completed and publicly reviewed.
A proposed data center project in Colorado Springs – Project Taurus, to be run by Raeden –
would be a high-intensity industrial facility right next to established residential neighborhoods.
The scale, permanence, and continuous operation of data centers require a level of scrutiny
consistent with other major industrial infrastructure, not expedited approval based primarily on
the developer’s own reporting and marketing material. The City of Colorado Springs did not
properly regulate the last data company at this location, and is similarly unprepared for these
types of organizations.
1. Incompatible siting and zoning concerns: Placing an industrial, 24/7 high-load facility
approximately 500 feet from homes raises fundamental land-use compatibility concerns. Zoning
exists to separate industrial-scale operations from residential areas to protect community health,
safety, and quality of life. This zoning was originally approved when the norm was 9 to 5
operations and has not caught up to the 24/7 operations of data centers. Overall, legislation and
policy has not caught up to the technology and nature of data centers.
2. Noise and documented health impacts; Data centers produce continuous mechanical
noise from cooling systems and intermittent generator testing. Data center neighbors have
reported headaches, vertigo, nausea, sleep disturbances, ear pain, and hypertension. People
who live near these data centers can hear the noise day and night as a ringing in the ears.
Complaints about data center noise tend to focus on its 24/7 consistent presence rather than on
its volume. The shrill nature of data center noise together with infrasound, can travel long
distances. These impacts require independent acoustic modeling at residential property lines
and enforceable compliance standards prior to approval. Claims that mitigation measures will
fully eliminate perceptible noise must be independently verified through third-party acoustic
modeling and continuous enforceable monitoring for the duration of operations.
3. Water consumption and regional scarcity: Even closed-loop cooling systems, which can
save 50-70% in freshwater usage, still have measurable water consumption and losses. In a
semi-arid region, full lifecycle water demand—including drought conditions—must be independently evaluated. The potential for glycol from cooling systems to seep into groundwater
and what it means for a local community must also be considered.
4. Electrical grid demand and ratepayer exposure: Large-load facilities place continuous
demand on the electrical grid. In states with a high concentration of data centers like Virginia,
electricity prices have increased by up to 267% over the last five years. The increases are due
to utilities needing to quickly deploy infrastructure and pay extra for market-rate energy. The full
scope of required infrastructure upgrades, cost allocation, and long-term ratepayer exposure
must be publicly disclosed and independently assessed.
5. Heat island and localized environmental effects: Large industrial facilities with extensive
building massing, heat rejection equipment, and continuous energy dissipation can contribute to
localized heat island effects. These heat islands increase surrounding land surface
temperatures 3.6F and up to 16F; the effects can extend up to 6 miles away from facilities.
These impacts can increase ambient temperatures in surrounding areas, compounding heat
stress in adjacent residential neighborhoods and increasing localized energy demand.
6. Air quality and industrial emissions: Diesel generators like the proposed developer uses
for other projects pose severe health risks to nearby communities by emitting high levels of toxic
particles that cause respiratory issues, worsen asthma, and increase long-term cancer risks.
Because the particulates from these generators are so small, they easily penetrate deep into the
lungs and are classified as group-one carcinogens. Small particulates take over a day to fall 10
feet, meaning much of the local community and Garden of the Gods will be exposed to the
output from 30+ generators. These emissions require transparent disclosure, modeling, and
regulatory compliance verification given proximity to residential areas.
7. Lack of independent review and transparency: At present, the analysis supporting Project
Taurus and others like it rely heavily on developer-submitted materials and utility assurances.
Given the scale and permanence of the infrastructure, residents are requesting independent
evaluation of:
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Noise impacts at residential property lines, including infrasound
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Full lifecycle water consumption, including losses and drought scenarios
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Grid capacity, peak load impacts, and ratepayer exposure
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Air quality impacts from backup generation
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Heat island and localized thermal effects
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Land-use compatibility with existing zoning intent
8. Big Horn Sheep and Wildlife Impact Concerns;
We respectfully request that the City require a wildlife impact assessment addressing potential effects of Project Taurus on Big Horn Sheep and other wildlife species utilizing the Douglas Creek corridor and nearby foothill habitats. While the application contains analysis regarding mechanical noise impacts on surrounding residential properties, it does not appear to provide a corresponding assessment of impacts on wildlife movement, behavior, or habitat use. The proposed project includes significant new infrastructure, including continuously operating chillers, large emergency generator facilities, substantial sound walls, and security fencing. These features may alter ambient sound conditions, visual conditions, movement corridors, and behavioral patterns for wildlife. Big Horn Sheep are an important wildlife resource in the Garden of the Gods and westside ecosystem, and movement between habitat areas may be affected by cumulative development pressures.
Requested Actions:
We request that the Planning Commission and City of Colorado Springs:
1. Delay any decision on this application until independent, third-party studies are completed
and publicly released, including:
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Property-line noise modeling (continuous + peak generator scenarios)
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Full water consumption analysis, including evaporative loss under drought conditions
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Electrical grid impact assessment, including peak load and infrastructure upgrades
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Air quality impact analysis from backup generator testing and operation
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Cumulative environmental impact assessment (not siloed departmental review)
2. Require independent, city-selected consultants for environmental and infrastructure studies
rather than relying solely on developer-provided analyses.
3. Establish enforceable operational conditions prior to approval, including:
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Property-line noise limits with 24/7 monitoring and enforcement mechanism
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Change requirements to 50 dB during the day and 45 dB at night due to the “shrill”nature of the sound emitted by fans and coolers.
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Mandatory disclosure and limits on generator testing schedules and emissions
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Binding water use reporting and conservation thresholds
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Defined financial responsibility for all infrastructure upgrades related to the project
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Inclusion of real and prohibitive penalties
4. Confirm zoning compatibility explicitly, including whether industrial-scale, 24/7 data center
operations are appropriate within close proximity to established residential neighborhoods.
5. Require full public disclosure of long-term infrastructure obligations, including who bears risk
for grid expansion, water sourcing, and decommissioning.
6. Scientific studies on the impact to the resident Big Horn Sheep:
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A study evaluating whether Big Horn Sheep currently utilize the Douglas Creek corridor or adjacent areas for travel, forage, or seasonal movement patterns;
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Evaluation of potential impacts from continuous operational noise, periodic generator testing, lighting, visual barriers, and perimeter fencing on wildlife behavior;
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Assessment of cumulative impacts in conjunction with other nearby developments and infrastructure projects;
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Consultation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife regarding potential habitat fragmentation and wildlife movement concerns; and Identification of feasible mitigation measures if impacts are identified.
Why This Matters
Colorado Springs has both the authority and the obligation to ensure that development decisions protect the public health, safety, and welfare of its residents and wildlife. This decision sets a precedent. Once built, the impacts of this project are permanent and irreversible.
Position Statement:
Based on incomplete independent analysis and the proximity to residential neighborhoods, we oppose approval of this project in its current form and request that no approvals be granted until the above conditions are satisfied.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Neighborhood or “Concerned Resident”]
