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HUBBARD TOWNSHIP — The township’s zoning commission will rewrite its zoning language pertaining to data centers, with officials noting the desire to get things right in one go.
Township trustees at Wednesday evening’s zoning hearing unanimously voted to reject zoning language proposed by the township's zoning commission, which was unsealed at a regular meeting earlier this month.
Trustees set the meeting at the Hubbard High School auditorium to discuss the language, which they would have 20 days after to decide whether to accept or reject.
The proposed language comes after trustees voted 2-1 to approve a resolution placing a one-year moratorium on data centers entering the township in February, noting a desire to stay proactive and ensuring proper updates are done to the township's future plan.
The article would have required data centers and their accessory uses to have a minimum setback of 300 feet from any residential zoning districts or uses and a minimum 500-foot setback from educational institutions, youth and community centers, recreational facilities, parks or religious institutions, as well medical facilities or other uses where people under age 21 gather regularly.
A minimum of 100 acres would have been required for any data center campus or high energy industrial use.
The article would prohibit evaporative cooling unless approved, only allowing closed loop cooling, and well drilling is also banned, with water to be purchased from the public water supply or trucked in.
Direct or outtake of water from the Shenango River and its tributaries also will be banned.
The article also would require applicants to demonstrate a fair means of wastewater disposal, including domestic wastewater and wastewater used for cooling and industrial purposes, approved and provided by the local sanitary authority and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The motion also includes data centers being prohibited in all residential, agricultural, conservation and flood plain zoning districts.
Trustee Jason Tedrow said Thursday evening that the township’s moratorium is still in effect, but they want to redo the resolution, noting some issues.
“Some things we could have done under a modification that we’re allowed to do under the Ohio Revised Code, but there was some things that they wanted to change to make it more stringent,” Tedrow said. “But the problem was, if we pass this, we no longer have a moratorium; the safer bet is to make it right the first time.”
Tedrow noted the county offered a sample resolution that raised some questions with residents, explaining that there were some areas that were more stringent while others were not.
“Like I said, my concern was, and speaking with the attorney was, if we pass that, we no longer get to enjoy the moratorium — we can extend it if we need some time,” Tedrow said. “We’re trying to make progress on this, so the best bet was, because of the potential pitfalls that we had in front of us was to kick it back, redo it, redo the process.”
In terms of what a timeline would look like, Tedrow said officials would ideally have something locked in by February — if not too long beyond that.
“We may have to extend our moratorium, which we’re prepared to do,” Tedrow said. “We want to make sure we do this right and we have the right protections in place before anything moves forward.”
Trustee Monica Baker encouraged the community to voice their concerns, participate and attend meetings.