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Facing a proposed data center, a township in Jackson County moves forward with zoning
By: Amanda Pirani
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SCIOTO TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — On a sweltering May evening, Trustee Aaron LeMaster warns a newly formed zoning commission they’ve got their work cut out for them.
“The task you have before you is monumental,” he said. “I’ve received dozens of phone calls that don’t want to hear any part of the word zoning.”
The prospect draws a crowd to the Scioto Township Garage, where monthly meetings are held. Some residents come prepared with their own chairs, after a handful set out quickly fill.
The meeting’s primary business is the appointment of zoning commission members — the first step in passing a zoning code for the township.
In a region where personal freedom is prized, it’s not a popular proposal. Or at least, it didn’t use to be.
Then news spread that landowners received offers in late winter to sell to a data center developer.
The idea alarmed some residents in the Jackson County township, which is largely agricultural.
“The main reason we’re all here is for this monstrosity that they’re proposing,” LeMaster said. “Otherwise, this would never even been brought up.”
As data center proposals continue to take communities by surprise, the possibility of zoning has become a hot topic in Ohio.
Some argue townships need more say in how the developments play out, while others hope zoning could stop them altogether.
In Green Township, residents petitioned their public officials to begin the zoning process in March. The Scioto County township is expected to see a 500,000-square-foot data center owned by Google.
In Lawrence County, commissioners recently discussed whether they should consider countywide zoning.
But initiating that process is just one step in a series required by Ohio law, which can take months or even years.
Zoning requires lengthy process
In Scioto Township, the newly formed seven-person zoning commission will spend at least a month compiling a proposal. Then it must hold two public hearings to receive community input. Those hearings require at least 30 days notice in a local paper or on the township’s social media.
The proposal will then go to the planning commission for review and finally before the board of trustees. If approved by both those bodies, it will go on the ballot for a township vote.
The timing of that vote is a challenge for those hopeful it could limit the proposed data center.
Fiscal Officer Judy Keifer said she doesn’t see them making the Aug. 5 deadline to make the November ballot.
“With all these steps, we’re already out to September 18th,” she said. “And that’s generous.”
Commission members initially hoped a special election would be possible.
But despite the name, those elections can’t be held at just any time. Ohio Revised Code allows for a special election three times of year: in August or in conjunction with the regularly scheduled May and November elections.
The deadline for an August special election passed on May 6.
Depending on how far along a development like a data center is by the time a zoning code is approved, it may be too late to apply to the project.
Trustee Terry Trisch said he’s skeptical zoning would cancel an incoming development.
“We can move forward with zoning, not that it’s going to stop what’s going on now in the township,” he said. “The chances of it stopping is pretty slim.”
Commission members emphasize zoning isn’t one-size-fits-all
Commission members said they don’t believe zoning has to mean burdensome regulations for residential areas.
“I think we could bring the temperature down on that a lot,” commission chair Kasey Hall said. “Explaining (that) those things you’ve heard are not at all what we plan.”
“We’ve gotta teach people exactly what zoning is for us, not what they think about an HOA or zoning next to a big city,” he said.
There’s another piece to zoning efforts that could be critical: the area’s Amish community.
More than two dozen Amish residents turned out for a community meeting about the data center in April, worried about what it would mean for their way of life. Their presence was a big deal for residents because of the group’s practice of remaining separated from local politics.
Now, Hall said they plan on supporting efforts to prevent the development from coming in.
While the Amish abstain from voting on political candidates, they can vote on issues — like zoning.
When the time comes, commission members said they are ready to go door-to-door and engage with all residents on the issue.
“I don’t think any of us here are under any illusion of the battle that we have,” Hall said. “And I have no doubt that we will get the work done.”
The Scioto Township zoning commission will meet at the Township fire department Tuesdays at 6 PM. More information can be found at the commission website.
Amanda Pirani is WOUB’s Report for America Journalist covering Economic Livelihood. For more information about Report for America, you can click here.