Stow Residents Question Data Center Impact Transparency And Available Land
Stow residents spoke during a public comment period regarding proposed data center zoning changes. Concerns were raised about the health and environmental impacts of data centers, lack of transparency due to non-disclosure agreements, and the availability of suitable land within the city for such developments.
During a public comment session on Stow's proposed data center zoning changes, residents voiced significant concerns regarding the potential impact of data centers on the community.
Marcia Schultz, a resident of Silver Lake, expressed worry that the economic benefits of a data center would be overshadowed by costs to health and the environment. She specifically highlighted issues with non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), noting how they have led to disadvantageous outcomes for other communities by obscuring information between corporations and councils. Schultz emphasized that hazardous effects on air and water do not respect municipal boundaries.
Donna Gil, a Stow resident, questioned whether the specifics of the proposed zoning changes had been published and made widely available to the public beyond those attending council meetings. She also inquired about the actual availability of land in Stow suitable for a data center, stating she had previously been informed by city staff that there was no data center seeking to come in and insufficient land to accommodate one.