Plain City Village Council adopts one-year data center moratorium
Plain City Village Council has formally adopted a one-year moratorium on new data center developments. This emergency measure allows village officials to study the facilities' impacts, including noise, heat, wastewater, and electrical load, and to draft new zoning regulations.
The Plain City Village Council unanimously approved an emergency measure Monday night, imposing a one-year moratorium on all new data center developments. The temporary freeze, passed 5-0 during its second reading, takes effect immediately to protect the village from potential unknown development impacts while officials conduct research. The legislation, which had its first reading on August 5, grants village staff and legal counsel a year to study the effects of data centers and formulate new zoning regulations.
According to village documents, data centers can significantly impact a community by producing noise, vibration, heat, and wastewater. They also place a substantial burden on the local electrical grid, consume large amounts of land and public utilities, yet create few permanent local jobs. A resident expressed support for the council's swift action during public comments, hoping the pause would allow for the creation of better zoning rules that align with the community's vision.