PERRY TWP. – Township trustees have agreed to a 75% property tax break to help pave the way for a planned data center along Faircrest Street SW.
The deal calls for Perry Township to receive $2.75 million upfront in exchange for foregoing future property tax payments from the project.
A resolution on the 30-year tax abatement was passed by a 2-1 vote by Perry trustees on March 24 during the board’s regular meeting. The action followed a lengthy closed-door session related to the data center and other township issues.
The agreement now heads to Stark County commissioners for final consideration. Commissioners are slated to meet at 1:30 p.m. March 25. It’s uncertain whether the issue will be brought up or reviewed at a later date.
Tax abatement is a tool used to encourage redevelopment and expansion. The incentives are designed to promote job creation or retention, as well as investment in new construction.
Perry Administrator Gerrie Cotter referred data center questions related to cost of the project and potential tax savings to Stark County, saying abatement applications are made through county government. A request has been made by The Independent for that information.
Work is underway for a multi-building site on 100 acres of industrial-zoned property southwest of Faircrest Street and Kropf Avenue SW, according to details released last month regarding the data center plan.
“It’s … important to recognize that this site has long been zoned for industrial use and is located near other industrial activity,” Trustee Matt Miller said in a news release.
“Based on that context, this type of use is consistent with the area and is not expected to have the same level of impact as more intensive industrial operations.”
Panattoni Development Co., a real estate development company based in California, purchased the industrial land early in early 2025. The bulk of the center is targeted for completion in 2027.
The effort consists of two 218,000-square-foot buildings and two 160,000-square-foot buildings.
Perry Township residents sound off against data center
For weeks, many Perry residents have voiced opposition, questioning noise and air pollution, electric costs and water use.
Some residents have also been critical of trustees for their perceived lack of transparency last year on the project. Trustees said in a statement March 24 that they first became aware of the effort in late July 2025, after discussions between the county and a developer were ongoing.
About 10 residents spoke out against the center during Perry’s regular meeting March 24. No one spoke in favor.
“There are a lot of us who just don’t want this,” said Shane McNutt, citing a petition against the data center that’s been signed by more than 3,100 people.
McNutt said an entryway or driveway for the center has been built “too close” to his property, making him more uncomfortable.
Perry officials cited multiple benefits and measures tied to the data center in a news release.
They include noise and well water protection; buffering between neighboring properties and the $2.75 million payment to the township, which is to provide fire, emergency medical, law enforcement, zoning and road maintenance services.
The proposed center is expected to create about 670 construction jobs, according to details of the plan.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Perry Township trustees sign off on tax break deal for new data center
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
