Data center company will meet with McDonald officials -
Oppidan, a data center developer, plans to meet with McDonald, Ohio, village officials and residents next month to discuss a potential project on the former McDonald Steel property. Residents have voiced strong opposition, citing concerns about health and environmental impacts, and are advocating for a moratorium on data centers and a public ballot vote. Meanwhile, the village's planning commission is actively developing zoning information for data centers to address the current lack of regulations.
Oppidan, a company exploring the possibility of establishing a data center in McDonald, Ohio, is scheduled to hold a public forum on September 15 at McDonald High School. Mayor Ray Lewis announced the meeting, which will include village council members and administrators, after a large turnout of over 75 concerned residents at a recent community room gathering to discuss data centers. This marks the first instance of a company willing to openly discuss a potential project with the community before submitting a formal site plan.
Residents at the meeting expressed significant apprehension regarding the proposed data center. Nancy Kish suggested placing the data center issue on a ballot for residents to decide, while others urged the council to enact a moratorium on data center development, similar to actions taken by other communities, to allow for more time to study the impacts. Health and safety concerns, including potential air pollution, were also raised by resident Sandy Frazzini, a nurse.
Mayor Lewis acknowledged the community's concerns but indicated that a moratorium could be detrimental to future business development in the village. He noted that the planning commission is actively working on developing guidelines for data centers, as current village zoning regulations do not address them. The commission is expected to make recommendations to the council. Council President Sean Schmidt assured residents that the council prioritizes their best interests in all decisions.