Google's planned data center in Sand Springs cleared its biggest legal hurdle Aug. 19, when a Tulsa County judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the rezoning of 826 acres for the project.

District Judge Priddy ruled that the plaintiffs lacked standing to contest the city's decision to rezone land at 5615 N. Oklahoma 97 from agricultural to light industrial. The case isn't over. Priddy gave the opposition 20 days to file an amended petition addressing the standing issue.

"At this point, Google has actually purchased the property. They are now owners of the property, so we believe this project will be going forward," city manager Mike Carter told KRMG.

The lawsuit, filed March 5 by Protect Sand Springs Alliance Inc., two neighboring families and the nonprofit Land Legacy, was one of three legal challenges connected to the data center project dubbed "Project Spring." The Sand Springs City Council voted 6-1 on Feb. 3 to approve the rezoning after the planning commission recommended it at a Jan. 27 meeting.

According to Tulsa World reporting, the city argued the plaintiffs never established during the council meeting that they would be harmed by the zoning change. Two plaintiff families, Clark and Candace Slaten and Rick and Melissa Plummer, live in unincorporated Osage County within 300 feet of the site but outside Sand Springs city limits. Land Legacy holds a conservation easement on 270 acres of the parcel, granted in 2013 in exchange for $3.8 million in tax breaks, and claims the easement prohibits industrial development on the entire 826-acre tract.

David Heatherford, an attorney for the city, told Priddy during the hour-long hearing that amending the petition would be "futile." He argued state law limits judicial review of a zoning challenge to what was presented on the record when the city made its decision.

No statement from the plaintiffs or their attorney, Peter Krolic, was available regarding whether they plan to refile within the 20-day window.

The project, which city officials say would bring at least 1,000 construction jobs and 200 permanent positions to the community of about 20,000, has drawn fierce opposition. Residents launched a recall effort against the entire city council, including Mayor Jim Spoon, shortly after the February vote. The 826-acre site was annexed into Sand Springs in 2025 before the rezoning.

Google and developer White Rose Partners have said construction on the air-cooled campus could begin as early as 2027. The deadline for an amended petition is Sept. 8.