11/21/2025
*Clarification- The Commission's approval Thursday was for the development of industrial buildings, power generation, handling, and distribution for property adjacent to Johnson Regional Medical Center. Approval of the six 360,000 square-foot buildings was approved previously. More details will be in the Nov. 26 issue of the paper.
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Thursday night, the Clarksville Planning & Zoning Commission approved the site-plan review submitted by John Vaughn of Vaughn Property Group.
The approval, associated with a data center project to be developed by Serverfarm LLC of California, authorizes pre-construction activities and development of six 360,000 square-foot flex industrial buildings on property located at the east end of Taylor Road with frontage on the Interstate 40 right-of-way.
Mayor David Rieder, addressed the potential noise, energy and water issues, a concern of many citizens regarding the construction of a data center, “We’ve done our due diligence. Energy effects won't be felt." He added that over $10 million has been invested in the city already in relation to the project, with capital outlay of over $1 billion expected.
Vaughn stated the construction phase would bring 1,500 jobs, with 100–200 permanent jobs following completion of Phase 1. The first phase will be developed at the intersection of Big Danger Road and Poplar Street, adjacent to Johnson Regional Medical Center, according to City Engineer Morgan Barrett.
Rieder told The Graphic after the meeting, “This starts the process of opening opportunities for the entire county; it kicks everything off. Based on the scope of what they have presented, this (all three phases of the project) will be the largest single investment in Arkansas history.”
See next week's issue for more.
