Urbana data center plans face reversal after critical vote
Urbana, Ohio, saw a critical vote send data center zoning plans back to the city council, potentially reversing development. Residents have voiced opposition to the 460,000-square-foot facility due to concerns about a nature preserve and schools. The city council previously enacted a one-year pause on the project and will now vote on whether the land can be used for a data center at all.
The city of Urbana, Ohio, is on the brink of reversing plans for a new data center following a critical vote by the city's planning commission on May 18. The commission unanimously voted to send the site's zoning back to the city council for reconsideration, a move celebrated by residents like Brad Winner, Sr., who expressed excitement about regaining control over the community's future.
According to Ward 4 Planning Commissioner Jennifer Dunham Young, the decision reflects the necessity of listening to citizens' concerns regarding the project. Ward 1 Planning Commissioner Kimberly Gordon-Brooks suggested the process had been less than transparent from the start, with data center discussions appearing in city documents years ago without clear public engagement. Residents began actively gathering information on the 460,000-square-foot facility's potential impact on a local nature preserve and nearby schools after the plans passed through the city council in 2025.
In response to growing opposition, the city council passed an emergency vote in March to pause progress on the data center for one year. Now, the council aims for a more transparent process, with a crucial vote scheduled for the following day that could prohibit the land from being used for a data center, effectively eliminating the current plans.