Marysville, Ohio Considers Zoning Changes Affecting Data Centers Amid Amazon Expansion
Marysville, Ohio, is reviewing a zoning "true-up" proposal for its East development, which includes significant changes impacting data centers, such as shifting them from "Permitted Use" to "Conditional Use" in certain areas and expanding prohibitions on groundwater wells. This comes as Amazon continues its substantial data center construction in the city's Innovation Park, with recent permits totaling nearly $314 million for multiple buildings and an electrical substation. The zoning amendments are a response to community concerns and city council directives.
The Marysville Planning Commission in Ohio is set to review a "true-up" zoning proposal for the Marysville East development, a 1,157-acre district. This proposal aims to consolidate previous regulations and address community feedback from 2024, particularly concerning data center development.
Key amendments include reclassifying data centers from a "Permitted Use" to a "Conditional Use" within the manufacturing and innovation district, requiring a specific review process to ensure sufficient utility capacity. Data centers will also remain strictly prohibited in areas near existing neighborhoods. Additionally, the proposal expands the prohibition on groundwater wells for industrial processes across the entire Area 2, increases setbacks from residential properties, and caps building heights at 60 feet in designated data center prohibited zones. The public hearing for these changes is scheduled for Tuesday evening at City Hall.
Simultaneously, Amazon is significantly investing in its data center campus in Marysville's Innovation Park. The Union County Building Department issued permits in June for Amazon's first data center building, valued at $259 million for a 218,000-square-foot facility. Additional permits include two more data center buildings, each valued at $20 million, and a $14.96 million electrical substation, bringing Amazon's approved construction value for the month to nearly $314 million.