Burlington residents got their first in-person look at a proposed data centre for the former Tucker’s Marketplace site during a city open house on September 11, 2026. The drop-in event ran from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Art Gallery of Burlington on Lakeshore Road.
The two-storey building at 3110 South Service Rd. would be developed by Gliese.AI Incorporated and would cover roughly 5,163 square metres. It would draw between 17 and 20 megawatts of electricity and operate around the clock, according to the City of Burlington.
This would be the first standalone data centre in Burlington. The city classifies the proposal as a general-purpose facility, not an AI or hyperscale operation, and it would use air cooling instead of water. Because data centres are already allowed in employment zones, no zoning change is needed.
The open house drew criticism from some residents who expected a formal presentation and a chance to ask questions directly. Instead, the developer provided information boards and a question box. The engagement was a public-input session held before staff make a decision.
The city’s deadline to decide on the site plan was September 4, 2026. Since that date has passed, the applicant can now appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal for non-decision. Council has no direct authority over site plan approvals, which are handled by city staff under provincial law.
In July, council rejected a one-year moratorium on data centres but approved a framework to guide future proposals. Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns, who is running for mayor against incumbent Marianne Meed Ward, had pushed for the moratorium and remains a vocal critic of the project.
