Urbana data center update
Urbana, Ohio is facing a lawsuit from Thor Equities regarding a data center project. The city had enacted a year-long moratorium on data center development. Neighbors are petitioning to recall Mayor Bill Being due to concerns over the data center's zoning and lack of public hearings.
The city of Urbana, Ohio, is embroiled in controversy surrounding a proposed data center development, facing a lawsuit from Thor Equities related to the project. This comes nearly three weeks after a city council meeting addressed concerns from residents.
The proposed data center is situated on land within a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA), which currently permits most building types to be developed without requiring public hearings for city approval. However, residents are advocating for the data center to be reclassified as a Planned Unit Development (PUD), which would mandate public hearings and greater public involvement in the approval process.
Complicating the situation, Urbana had previously enacted a year-long moratorium on data center development. Mayor Bill Being is facing a recall petition from neighbors who allege a lack of necessary legal oversight and transparency in the process, stemming from a lawsuit claiming officials, including the mayor, were involved for a year. The city council's next meeting is scheduled for July 21st.