MASSILLON – City Council has passed a series of zoning changes aimed at regulating data centers.
Council voted 7-1 on the evening of Aug. 3 to approve new zoning rules for data centers, which include placing facilities within heavy-industrial (I-2) zoning regions only, mainly because I-2 parcels are farther from residential areas.
“This is about as restrictive as we can be without outlawing (the facilities),” said City Councilwoman Julie Harwig Smith, R-Ward 5, who chairs the city’s Community Development Committee, noting that heavy industrial areas are loosely referred to as “brown land.”
“This legislation gives us protections,” she added.
Councilman Eric Ray, D-Ward 2, lauded council’s “detailed work” and intense, lengthy debate since early spring on the zoning issue.
“I feel we have done as much diligence as we can do on this step,” he said.
Casting the lone vote against the zoning rules was Councilman Tony Townsend, D-Ward 4, saying he was swayed by the number of residents who spoke at council’s Aug. 3 meeting against the legislation.
Multiple city residents speak out against data center legislation, zoning rules
Prior to the vote, a dozen people lobbied against allowing any data centers to operate in Massillon. No one spoke in favor of the facilities.
Jane Schultz said data centers seem to be coming into Ohio fast and suggested council to take a cautious approach.
“The changes with data centers are so rapid. I want to be careful we don’t get sucked into something for a long time you can’t change,” Schultz said.
The city’s 60-day stay, or moratorium, on data centers is scheduled to expire on Aug. 7. Multiple residents asked City Council to extend the moratorium and continue to research health, noise and environmental affects related to data centers.
“Economic development should never come at the expense of harming the community,” said Antonia Carbone.
Steven Slagle agreed that council should take more time to consider the zoning legislation and perhaps not allow data centers in the city at all.
“I don’t think we’ll miss anything if we let this go. I don’t think we lose anything by waiting,” he said.
More details about Massillon’s new data center zoning regulations
Setbacks from residential districts for large data centers — exceeding 100,000 square feet per parcel — and small facilities — no more than 100,000 square feet — will be at least 400 feet, according to Massillon’s new zoning rules.
Developers will also be required to prove in their site plan that a data center has adequate water, electric and wastewater capacity available prior to construction, as well as having peak noise and decibel level certifications.
Allowing the city’s site plan review committee to revisit any utility-related changes that may arise after initial approval or construction of a data center is another zoning regulation.
A data center developer 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.
In addition to Massillon, local governments elsewhere in Stark County have been moving to set regulations or moratoriums for data centers.
Canton City Council passed a series of zoning rules July 27 for data center. 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.
Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Massillon finalizes data center zoning regulations with 7-1 vote
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent | USA TODAY Network
