HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Seating was in unusually short supply at the Hermantown City Hall on Monday night, as councilors took up a rezoning request that could open the door for the construction of a sprawling data center in the rural southwest corner of the Duluth-area community.

Council chambers were filled to capacity, and an engaged crowd exceeding 300 citizens spilled out into overflow spaces where members of the public were able to view a video feed of the meeting and step forward to address councilors in turn when it was their opportunity to speak.

The meeting began at 6:30 p.m. and wrapped up shortly before the clock struck midnight.

Both advocates and opponents of a proposed data center development shared their views before the council unanimously voted to support the requested zoni

See Full Page