Plain City, Ohio, Proposes One-Year Data Center Moratorium
Plain City, Ohio, is considering a one-year moratorium on new data center applications after its Village Council held the first reading of an ordinance. The pause aims to allow the village time to develop robust zoning rules and study potential impacts like noise, electricity usage, and environmental effects on the Big Darby Creek watershed. A second reading for the proposed moratorium is scheduled for August 10, 2026.
Plain City, Ohio, is moving forward with a proposed one-year moratorium on new data center applications. The Village Council recently held the first reading of an ordinance to establish this pause, opting not to fast-track its passage as an emergency measure and instead adhering to the standard voting schedule.
The council's decision to pursue a moratorium stems from a desire to establish comprehensive, legally sound zoning rules for data centers. Local officials have voiced concerns about potential community impacts, including noise, constant vibrations, high electricity consumption, and environmental effects on the nearby Big Darby Creek watershed. Additionally, the village's legal team cautioned that rushing new safety rules, such as distance limits from the creek, could lead to legal challenges if perceived as overly restrictive.
By declining to waive the second reading, council members aim to ensure future regulations can withstand legal scrutiny. The proposed data center moratorium will now proceed to a second reading, scheduled for the next council meeting on Monday, August 10, 2026.