Company addresses questions on proposed data center in McDonald, residents continue opposing it

Oppidan, a company proposing to build and operate a data center campus in McDonald, Ohio, held a public meeting to discuss their plans with local residents. The proposed campus, slated for the former McDonald Steel site, would feature 9-12 data center buildings and 2-4 administration buildings, creating an estimated 250 jobs with salaries ranging from $85,000 to $150,000 annually. The project is expected to take five years to complete and generate $7.3 million in property tax revenue each year. Two new First Energy substations would also be required.

Approximately 200 people attended the meeting at McDonald High School, where Oppidan's Drew Johnson presented the plans. Many residents vocalized strong opposition, with some expressing concerns about families leaving the area due to the data centers. Former EPA employee Patricia Dunbar and Cara Pecchia, who runs a daycare and preschool near the proposed site, were among those who addressed the crowd. Residents called for a moratorium on the project, urging Oppidan to allow the village to conduct further research before proceeding.

The meeting also touched upon environmental issues, as the land where McDonald Steel once stood is known to contain heavy metals, petroleum, and asbestos. Oppidan stated they have hired consultants and plan to clean up the property to EPA specifications, confirming that environmental testing has been done to assess the project's feasibility. Johnson noted that Oppidan has not yet submitted a formal land use application, indicating the project is still in its early stages of community engagement, and described such initial meetings as typically involving many questions that cannot yet be fully answered.