Sunbury residents submit petition to put proposed data center before voters
Sunbury, Ohio residents have submitted a petition with 450 signatures to force a public vote on a proposed Amazon data center. The initiative follows community concerns about noise, water and electricity consumption, and the project's proximity to homes and schools. The city had previously placed a moratorium on the project for impact study and offered Amazon tax incentives.
Residents of Sunbury, Ohio, are actively opposing a proposed Amazon data center development, submitting a petition with 450 signatures to mandate a public vote on the project. The petition, delivered to the city, significantly exceeded the 172 signatures required to place the measure on the November ballot. This initiative stems from strong community concerns regarding the facility's potential impact.
Key concerns raised by residents, including Larry Toti, who lives near the proposed site, include significant construction for three years, 24-hour lighting, constant humming, and the use of diesel generators storing over 100,000 gallons of fuel. Opponents argue that the massive 450,000 square foot facility is inappropriately located too close to homes, schools, and neighborhoods, citing issues such as noise pollution, high water consumption, and electricity demands.
The city of Sunbury had previously zoned the 1,300-acre land for Limited Industrial use in 2023 under an agreement that would tax the property at 12.5% for the first 15 years and 25% for the subsequent 15 years, intended to benefit local schools. In response to resident concerns, the city also enacted a moratorium on the project to conduct further impact studies. Amazon states the data center would create 50 jobs with an average salary of $90,000 annually, while the city is offering substantial tax abatements of 87.5% for the first 15 years and 75% for the following 15 years.
The Board of Elections is now tasked with certifying the collected signatures. If the measure qualifies for the November ballot and voters approve it, residents hope it will compel the city to halt the project. Kevin Landers reported live from Sunbury for 10TV News.