Ohio Supreme Court allows Lordstown to reject data center construction following moratorium
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the Village of Lordstown could stop processing a proposed AI data center because the developers had not completed the preliminary steps required to apply for a permit. The decision upheld the village’s authority to reject the site plan review request after it enacted a data center construction moratorium.
The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of the Village of Lordstown in a legal dispute over a proposed AI data center from Bristolville 25 Developer and BHGH Properties. The court found that the developers had not completed required preliminary permitting steps before Lordstown enacted a moratorium prohibiting data center construction.
The developers argued that the village had to process their site plans because they were submitted shortly before the moratorium took effect. The justices rejected that argument, concluding that Lordstown officials were within their rights to stop reviewing the proposal.