Data center drama brewing in Findlay as city considers policies to put in place once moratorium ends
Finley enacted a 12-month moratorium on data centers to develop regulations. The city is now creating those rules, but a canceled private meeting has raised questions about transparency and the speed of the process among some residents and former city officials. Mayor Christina Mearns defends the city's approach, stating the meeting was purely informational.
Findlay, Ohio, implemented a 12-month moratorium on data center development in April to establish appropriate regulations. As the city approaches the moratorium's end in April next year, officials are actively drafting these new rules. However, a recently canceled virtual meeting intended for city council members to learn about data center policies from New Albany drew criticism regarding transparency.
Former Findlay City Council member Holly Frisa called the planned closed Zoom meeting "illegal" and expressed concerns that the city is moving too quickly to establish policies for a potentially divisive issue. Frisa emphasized the importance of transparency in the process. Mayor Christina Mearns, however, clarified that the meeting was intended as an educational session to gather information and not for policy discussion or decision-making, asserting its legality.
Mearns stated that Findlay city leaders are consulting with other communities, such as New Albany, which has successful data center developments alongside strict design and building standards. The goal is to develop a "strict code" that allows flexibility in evaluating future projects on their individual merits. The city aims to finalize a policy plan by October, prior to focusing on the city budget. Currently, there are no specific data center projects proposed for Findlay.