Shalersville Township clarifies zoning for proposed data center
The Shalersville Township Board of Trustees voted to clarify that the township's current zoning is light industrial, a decision connected to a proposed massive data center. An attorney representing opponents called the board's action unlawful, while township officials said the clarification supports the pending conditional-use application.
The Shalersville Township Board of Trustees voted to define the township's existing zoning as light industrial after officials were told previous language was unclear. The clarification is intended to establish more specific zoning rules for a proposed large data center in Portage County, including development standards and limits related to the site’s use.
The decision has drawn opposition from an attorney representing a party challenging the data center proposal, who argued that the board’s amendments were unlawful and could affect a conditional-use application filed under the prior zoning language. Trustee Ronald Kotkowski defended the action as a step toward clearer regulation, while supporters described it as part of the local democratic process. The conditional-use request remains under consideration.