Compass Datacenters campus near Wakarusa (Topeka area)
Also called: CU-26-203, Compass MCI-A
Compass Datacenters wants to build a 10-building data center campus near Wakarusa, southwest of Topeka. One estimate in news coverage puts its value at about $3 billion once running. Shawnee County is reviewing the permit, but has paused final decisions until February 2027.
Where things stand: Permit application deemed complete Sept. 9, 2026; no hearing set. County moratorium says no final action until after Feb. 17, 2027.
🕒 Latest update (Sept 9, 2026): County deemed the application complete; full review under way.
What we know
- 📍 WhereSW 85th Street area, Wakarusa, southwest of Topeka (one news report gives 3303 SW 77th St.), Shawnee County
- 🏢 CompanyCompass Datacenters
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromEvergy (will-serve letter in the application); company says it will pay for its own power infrastructure.
- ❄️ CoolingCompany says it will use no city water for cooling
- 💵 Cost$3 billion
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How many megawatts would the Compass campus use? 🙋 I'll find out
- What is the exact site address (SW 85th St. or SW 77th St.)? 🙋 I'll find out
- When will the planning commission hold a public hearing? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- July 24, 2026Compass filed a conditional use permit application with Shawnee County.
- July 28, 2026Compass held an open house at Washburn Rural High School; more than 100 people came.
- Aug 13, 2026County commission passed a moratorium; it will not take final action on the Compass application until it ends.
- Sept 9, 2026County deemed the application complete; full review under way.
Local votes and rules
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
County commissioners approved a six-month pause on new data center applications, through Feb. 17, 2027. The Compass application filed in July keeps moving through review, but the county will not approve or deny it until the pause ends.
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
City council approved a one-year pause on new data center applications inside city limits. Later the council changed the wording so the city also cannot give data centers utility hookups outside city limits.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Data Center Development (CU-26-203) · Shawnee County Land Use & Development · Sept 2026
- Company submits data center proposal in Shawnee County · KSNT 27 News · July 2026
- Six-month moratorium approved for new data center applications in Shawnee County · KSNT 27 News · Aug 13, 2026
- Kansans fear impacts of data centers despite promise of economic benefits · Kansas Reflector via KCUR · Aug 30, 2026
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