The proposed data center by Google near Sand Springs led to a lawsuit filed this week claiming the land in question cannot be used for industrial development.
The conservation group, Land Legacy, filed suit in Osage County District court contending the 800-acre proposed development site has a conservation easement. Legacy’s Executive Director Michael Patton says it prevents any industrial development and the suit is suing the owners, the Ringle Family and the four family members who signed the agreement.
“In 2013 Land Legacy and the Ringles signed an agreement titled the Deed of Conservation Easement,” stated the suit.
“The Easement covers 270 acres (the Protected Property and prohibits industrial development of the 720 acres (Ringle Ranch.)”
The suit continued and accused the Ringles of acting “with silence, secrecy, and made misrepresentations to Land Legacy, governmental officials, and the public to conceal their plans to violate the Easement.” It accused the family of using nondisclosure agreements with the City of Sand Springs “to participate in their strategy of secrecy, silence and misrepresentation.”
As KOTV News on 6 reported this week, an attorney for the developer signed a rezoning application form stating the property had no restrictions controlling its use.
One leader of Land Legacy, Kyle Schmidt considered the lawsuit could stop the data center project.
“Land Legacy’s claim is probably one of the strongest claims that anybody has had so far, because they have actual deeded property rights,” he said. “So as far as standing goes, it doesn’t get much better than that.”