City of Akron enacts zoning change to reflect data center concerns
Akron City Council unanimously approved a zoning change establishing a new framework for data center development. The new regulations require conditional use approval and impact assessments for the electric grid, water, sewer, and noise pollution, addressing community concerns. While future projects must comply, previously approved data centers will proceed under the old rules.
The Akron City Council unanimously passed a significant zoning change during a special meeting on July 27, establishing a new regulatory framework for data center developments within the city. Crafted by Mayor Shammas Malik's administration, the revised zoning language defines data centers and mandates that they now require conditional use approval, a stricter standard for development.
The updated ordinance requires data center developers to submit detailed information regarding their proposed projects' impact on the local electric grid, water consumption, the sanitary sewer system, and noise pollution. Planning Director Kyle Julien stated that the proposal was a direct response to community concerns about the potential adverse effects of data centers.
While the new rules apply to future data center proposals, previously approved projects, such as a data center expansion in South Akron, will proceed under the old zoning language. The city's planning department will spend the next six months studying how other municipalities address data center regulation and will gather input from community stakeholders, with the potential for future legislation to establish thresholds for data center development based on factors like square footage or resource consumption.