Urbana residents demand restrictions on data centers amid lawsuit
Urbana, Ohio residents are demanding restrictions on data center development, including changes to zoning regulations, amidst a lawsuit filed against the city by developer Thor Equities. The community is also seeking to recall Mayor Bill Bean, alleging he worked with the developer without public input. A year-long moratorium on data center construction is currently in effect.
Urbana, Ohio is facing a lawsuit from Thor Equities, a developer seeking to build a data center in the city. The lawsuit comes nearly three weeks after the city was served with the legal action, prompting a packed public meeting where residents voiced their demands.
Community members are calling for significant changes, including the firing of city administration members and a reclassification of the data center's planned land from CRA-2 to a planned unit development (PUD). This zoning change would mandate public hearings for any future data center proposals. City Council Member Amy Jumper is sponsoring a resolution to enact this change, but its progress has been hindered by delays in legal review from other city officials.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the mayor's alleged year-long collaboration with Thor Equities, leading residents to launch a petition to recall Mayor Bill Bean. The project has been halted by a year-long moratorium passed in June, and residents are advocating for economic development that prioritizes community safety and welfare.