Village's residents voice concern, opposition to data center
Residents in Mt. Orab, Brown County, Ohio, are strongly opposing a planned data center, gathering at a village meeting to voice their concerns. The meeting focused on proposed "high-tech overlay" zoning changes intended to regulate data centers, which residents argue are insufficient to prevent the project. The community is seeking a legal opinion on whether existing zoning laws from 1969 could already restrict data center development.
Brown County residents in Mt. Orab, Ohio, are continuing to voice their strong opposition to a proposed data center. During a recent village meeting, community members expressed frustration over a planned "high-tech overlay" zoning change, which they believe does not go far enough to adequately restrict or even ban data centers within the village.
Planning Commission member Mike Kirk was credited with expanding the proposed high-tech overlay from a page-and-a-half to nearly a dozen pages, incorporating more restrictions such as smaller building heights, reduced parking, and prohibitions on late-night generator operations. However, residents, including Wayne Reveal, are demanding a legal opinion on whether the village's existing zoning laws, which date back to 1969, are already sufficient to prevent such data centers without the need for the new overlay.
Jessica Baker of Conserve Ohio highlighted the community's determination, stating that the issue is "the fight of our lives" and that residents "are not going to go away." Concerns were also raised regarding the lack of a clear map for the proposed overlay, specifically whether it would encompass land beyond the immediate data center site.