Pataskala City Council votes against data center proposal
The Pataskala City Council unanimously voted against Aligned Data Centers' proposal, following a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Residents expressed strong opposition due to concerns over power, water, noise, and health risks. Voters in Pataskala will have a say in a November referendum regarding data centers using over 25 megawatts of power.
The Pataskala City Council has unanimously voted against a data center proposal from Aligned Data Centers, effectively blocking the project. This decision came after the Council accepted the Planning and Zoning Commission's earlier recommendation to deny the proposal, which had been rejected 5-2 by the commission months prior.
During the meeting, the Council heard hours of testimony from residents who voiced numerous concerns about the data center. Pataskala City Council President Brandon Galik stated his vote against the proposal was due to unanswered questions, particularly regarding the power design, which he noted was incomplete. The Ohio citing board has jurisdiction over such facilities, and without a full power design, the council found it difficult to approve.
Public comments highlighted issues such as the substantial consumption of water and land, the need for substations and transmission lines, and the constant noise a data center would generate. Residents also raised worries about potential long-term health risks and the visual impact of a four-story building on the community's agricultural landscape.
Despite the council's decision, Pataskala voters will still have a direct say on data center development in a November referendum. They will vote on whether to permit data centers that consume more than 25 megawatts of power, indicating ongoing community involvement in future data center policies.