The Microsoft Deal: An Irreversible Gamble
After months of secrecy, the anonymous developer has been revealed as Microsoft. Village President Tom Weatherston admitted he knew their identity for three months while the public was kept in the dark. Now, a review of the proposal shows the deal has been significantly weakened in Microsoft's favor.
This is Bigger Than One Project: A Threat to Our Master Plan
This irreversible rezoning violates our approved land use plan, sells out the village's rural character in exchange for vague projections of future tax revenue, and neglects to address what will happen when the data center on the property becomes obsolete.
A Watered-Down Deal: How Microsoft Gutted All Commitments
A comparison of the official village documents from July to September reveals that Microsoft has successfully removed all meaningful timelines, shifting all risk onto the taxpayers of Caledonia.
The Original July Proposal
- Purchase property by 12/31/2025
- Submit plans by 12/31/2030
- Start construction by 6/30/2030
- Complete by 1/1/2033
The Current September Proposal
- Submit plans by 12/31/2030 (REMOVED)
- Start construction by 6/30/2030 (REMOVED)
- Complete by 1/1/2033 (REMOVED)
As one resident put it: "Microsoft and Dewberry have taken out all the important time commitments. They want all the flexibility and none of the risk... the village has caved to every demand."
The Land in Question
Affected Properties & Zoning Change
The image above contains the 245 acres of farmland (roughly within the red circled area), primarily owned by We Energies, targeted for rezoning. Based on available data, these properties are part of We Energies’ holdings near the Oak Creek Power Plant, including:
- Land south of Ryan Road (Hwy 100), near Hwy 32/Botting Road, west of the Oak Creek Power Plant, historically used as a buffer for the plant’s ash heap (web data on We Energies’ real estate).
- Former residential and cornfield areas, acquired by We Energies after contamination rendered them uninhabitable, as noted in residents-against.pdf and web reports of property purchases near Oak Creek since 2009 ($5.2M for 20 properties).
- Wetlands and open spaces adjacent to the power plant, critical for environmental corridors per the 2035 Land Use Plan.
Currently zoned A-2 General Agricultural to preserve rural character, the developer seeks to rezone to M-1 Light Manufacturing. This shift is irreversible, turning farmland into an industrial zone, a move residents-against.pdf warns benefits We Energies financially while risking community loss.
Key Project Facts
| Project Codename | Project Nova Source: Village Plan Commission Agenda, July 28, 2025 |
| Location | ~245 acres of We Energies-owned farmland south of Ryan Road (Hwy 100), near Hwy 32/Botting Rd, west of Oak Creek Power Plant; includes wetlands and has a contamination history from the power plant's ash heap. |
| Developer & Owner | Filed by Dewberry Engineers Inc. (Virginia-based) for Microsoft. |
| Zoning Change | Request to rezone from A-2 (General Agricultural) to M-1 (Light Manufacturing); requires amending the 2035 Land Use Plan. |
| Status | Initial hearing July 28 (delayed due to public opposition). Pre-development agreement approved Aug 16, 2025, accepting $25,000 from the developer for July 2024-June 2025 services. |
A Bad Deal for Taxpayers: All Risk, No Reward
As detailed by the "Residents Against the Rezoning" group, the financial structure is completely one-sided:
Huge Reward for We Energies
We Energies devalued this land with environmental damage, bought it, and now stands to gain millions from a zoning change they are pushing. The $25,000 payment suggests early favoritism.
All Risk for Caledonia Residents
Taxpayers are expected to fund water/sewer extensions with no guaranteed tax revenue. If the project fails, we are left with the debt.