MASSILLON – City Council has agreed to a 60-day extension regarding the stay on data centers, allowing officials more time to ponder zoning changes and limits on such facilities in the city.
Council voted 9-0 during a June 15 regular meeting to continue the moratorium, which was set to expire June 22. The move prohibits any data center activity citywide at least through mid-to-late August.
During the meeting, resident Jane Schultz told council she was encouraged about the additional pause on data centers. She added that officials should take more than the 60 days to look at air pollution and cooling systems involving water use related to the facilities.
Schultz was the lone speaker at the meeting to mention data centers.
Council members are continuing to review zoning legislation that looks to set guidelines for developers prior to building data centers. Debate among members is expected to run several more weeks prior to a vote.
Inserting strict guidelines for electric, water, noise and sewer on potential developers was a significant part of a June 8 work session discussion among members.
The proposed zoning legislation, which was given second reading June 15 by City Council, aims to define smaller-scale data centers as 100,000 square feet or less per parcel, and larger ones as 100,000 square feet or more. Smaller centers would be assigned light-industrial (I-1) zoning, while larger structures fall under heavy industrial (I-2.)
However, council members seem to favor focusing mainly on I-2 zoning for data centers, partly because heavily industrial regions are farther from residential areas. Discussion on amendments is slated for a June 29 work session.
Planned data centers are an ongoing concern to many Stark County residents, as one is underway in Perry Township.
Perry Township trustees on March 24 voted 2-1 to approve a 30-year property tax abatement for a planned data center site off Faircrest Street SW, despite opposition by numerous residents. Canton City Council approved the abatement May 18, as it relates to an existing Joint Economic Development District with Perry. Stark County commissioners voted 2-0 to approve the deal on June 10.
A data center developer also has eyes on the Massillon Technology and Energy Park ― the former site of Republic Steel ― as a potential location down the road. That area is zoned heavy industrial.
Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Massillon City Council extends data center ban another 60 days
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent | USA TODAY Network
