'Fighting a ghost:' Lorain County community hopes to get ahead of possible data center development

Brownhelm Township in rural Lorain County, Ohio, is grappling with the prospect of data center development following the multi-million-dollar purchase of 170 acres of former farmland by MBJ Holdings, LLC. Property records indicate that MBJ Holdings, a Central Ohio-based company, is affiliated with the New Albany Company, known for spearheading development north of Columbus, and already owns properties in Franklin and Licking Counties that are slated for or are becoming data centers. Local residents, including Mike Talbott, express significant concern that the land purchase is a precursor to a large-scale data center project, which they believe would jeopardize their rural way of life. They are actively organizing to oppose such development, planning to attend public meetings and advocate against it. In response to these concerns and without direct communication from the new property owner, the Brownhelm Township board of trustees, chaired by Greg Butchko, has taken proactive steps. The township has already passed a six-month moratorium on non-residential development, with an option for a six-month extension, and has initiated discussions on a resolution to regulate data centers, drawing inspiration from an ordinance in Montour County, Pennsylvania. This move aims to establish stringent criteria for any potential data center projects, potentially deterring developers. The township's efforts to overhaul its land use plan are expected to take several months.