FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) — Fort Wayne City Council President Geoff Paddock is asking the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to apply strict environmental standards as it reviews Google’s latest request to expand its Fort Wayne data center.

Data center developers have requested permission to fill about 2.13 acres of forested, isolated wetlands to make room for three additional buildings. The request is part of the third phase of the data center’s expansion.

IDEM has scheduled a public hearing on the request for August 25.

Paddock sent a letter to IDEM Friday, saying he has heard from residents who plan to attend the hearing and voice concerns about the environmental impact of the project.

He also said he was unable to attend the hearing himself.

Paddock noted that IDEM previously approved a request to fill more than two acres of wetlands for an earlier expansion phase. The agency also approved Google’s request earlier this year to add more than 140 emergency diesel generators to the campus.

In his letter, Paddock said environmental and wetland impacts are typically discussed with city council members during the rezoning process. He said those plans were not presented when council approved the data center’s rezoning in 2023.

Paddock is asking IDEM to work with the city and apply the strictest possible environmental standards as it considers the latest permit request.