UPDATE: City of Trenton, property owners withdraw annexation petition

The city of Trenton, Ohio, along with property owners and Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky, has officially withdrawn a petition to annex over 600 acres from Madison and St. Clair townships. This land was earmarked for a large, 18-building Amazon Web Services data center development. The notice of withdrawal was sent to the Butler County Board of Commissioners just hours before a scheduled annexation hearing.

The withdrawal is perceived by Commissioner T.C. Rogers as a strategic move by Trenton and Amazon to await the outcome of a November 3 election, where city voters will decide on a charter amendment aimed at banning data centers within city limits. Commissioner Don Dixon criticized the late cancellation, labeling it "shameful" and consistent with a lack of transparency throughout the project's development. The townships of Madison and St. Clair had formally opposed the annexation, citing potential legal and contiguity issues, including concerns about divided highways and errors in legal descriptions.

The commissioners, who recently engaged legal experts to navigate the complexities of data center development, had become more assertive in their review process, a departure from previous project approvals. Petitioners, including Trenton and other entities, still reserve the right to refile the annexation petition at a later date. The proposed annexation was utilizing a rare expedited Type 3 process, typically reserved for major economic development projects that meet specific investment and payroll thresholds, which the state had certified for this project.