CANTON – City Council has approved new zoning regulations for data centers. But residents and some council members argue “too little, too late.”
Ahead of its vote, council held a 7 p.m. public hearing, giving residents an opportunity to speak on proposed changes to the zoning code.
Over 50 residents packed the room July 27, ready to share their perspective. Meanwhile, dozens of others were turned away from City Hall, left standing outside in the rain.
Officials said the chambers were at capacity according to fire occupancy codes. However, no sign was posted in council chambers listing capacity, leaving many attendees upset.
“This isn’t truly a public hearing if members of the public are left outside in the rain,” resident Daniel Gates said.
The hearing lasted nearly an hour and a half. Each speaker was granted three minutes. All were opposed to data centers coming to Canton.
Members approved the proposed changes in an 8-3 vote. Majority Leader John Mariol was absent from the meeting.
Mayor William V. Sherer II has said plans have been submitted for multiple sites in the city and that new zoning rules will help guide future projects.
A proposed data center project is already underway in southeast Canton by Dubai-based DAMAC Digital.
What Canton’s new zoning rules on data centers say
The approved changes expand the existing definition of “data center” and outline how facilities should be built and operated in Canton.
The new definition includes a range of facilities, from hyperscale data centers (100,000 square feet or 50 megawatts of power) to smaller centers and high-intensity facilities focused on artificial intelligence or cryptocurrency.
Council approved creating a new zoning code chapter, focused solely on data centers. The chapter defines a “sensitive receptor” as any land use sensitive to noise, vibration or nuisances. That includes any property within 2,500 feet of the data center property line.
Principal buildings, cooling equipment, electrical substations, generators and battery storage must be set back a minimum of 200 feet from the nearest property line of a sensitive receptor or right-of-way.
The chapter highlights requirements for underground utility lines and landscaping buffers to reduce noise and visibility. Facilities must conduct a series of sound studies and limit generator testing hours.
Other regulations outline parking, off-street loading, landscaping, site design, right of entry and inspection and other issues.
Local governments elsewhere in Stark County have been moving to establish regulations or moratoriums for data centers. Massillon City Council is planning to vote on zoning changes for data centers in early August. On July 6, Alliance City Council banned new data center builds in the city for 18 months. Plain Township enacted a 12-month moratorium in March. Canton Township did the same in April, as did Washington Township.
Residents push back against proposed changes
City residents lined up at the podium to express concerns with council before the vote. Many speakers generally opposed data centers for potential issues with water usage, pollution and health effects.
Ruth Ann Chaffin spoke on behalf of her son, a nearby resident who was not permitted to enter the meeting. She is worried about multiple hyper-scale centers coming to Stark County.
“Having so many of these data centers so close to one another, especially, is not good,” Chaffin said.
Canton Township resident Brenda Parsons wasn’t satisfied with the zoning changes, but agreed something had to be done. She said the city’s changes did not properly address facility size, setbacks or buffers. She suggested council place a 12-month moratorium and research data centers further.
“Get the zoning right,” she said. “Get the zoning to where you really are protecting the citizens.”
Resident Braden Stepanovich Adkins said he loves computers and technology, but modern data centers are flawed.
“Technology continues to get smaller and more efficient than what it used to be. Putting in large scale buildings in our cities that already struggle to effectively take care of the people around us may only lead to more problems,” he said.
Barb Resch, who spent 25 years working in information technology, shared the sentiment. She said the city should require data centers to sign strong decommissioning agreements before construction.
The new zoning legislation requires operators provide a 180-day, or otherwise practical, notice prior to closing, relocating or abandoning a facility. But Resch said the city should add safeguards for economic and environmental risks if a data center shuts down, such as a decommissioning bond.
City officials discuss new regulations
Council deliberated for about 20 minutes before voting. Councilmembers Frank Morris, Richard Sacco and Chris Smith voted against the ordinance.
Sacco said council had little input because the recommendations were written by the planning commission.
Smith spoke with residents who have already grappled with health effects tied to Republic Steel and had concerns about data centers.
“They specifically said, ‘We don’t want to have to go through that again,'” she said.
Morris said he is worried the Orchard View Drive SE center does not have to comply with new rules since plans have been submitted and dirt is being moved.
Law Director Jason Reese could not confirm or deny whether the new regulations would apply to the site.
The zoning rules can be amended after they passed, Sherer said. However, currently, Canton has no data center specific zoning.
“You guys can vote it down all day long,” he said. “There’s just nothing to govern them by.”
Councilwoman Brenda Kimbrough, who voted in favor of the legislation, suggested the body approve the legislation and make changes later.
“We can’t correct something if we never start,” she said.
After the vote, councilmembers agreed to seek more legal information from Reese, who suggested they send questions to him in writing.
Contact Abreanna Blose by email at ablose@usatodayco.com or by phone at 330-580-8513.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton passes data center zoning rules after packed public hearing
Reporting by Abreanna Blose, Canton Repository / The Repository
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By Abreanna Blose, Canton Repository | USA TODAY Network
