Miami Township Trustees approve 12-month data center moratorium
Miami Township Trustees unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on new data centers to allow time to study their potential effects on local health, safety, utilities, and infrastructure. During this period, the Zoning Commission and Administrator are tasked with developing a specific section of the Township Zoning Resolution to address data centers.
Miami Township Trustees convened a regular meeting where they first addressed a months-long dispute over reimbursing health insurance premiums for Township staff and officials. Trustees Marilan Moir and Lori Askeland voted against seeking further legal advice on the matter, effectively closing the debate despite Trustee Chris Mucher's vote in favor. The discussion involved differing interpretations of Ohio law and potential Affordable Care Act violations, with Greene County Prosecuting Attorney David Hayes advising caution.
Later in the same meeting, the Trustees unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on any new data center seeking to operate or locate within Miami Township. The resolution, read aloud by Trustee Lori Askeland, defines data centers as facilities housing infrastructure for technological applications or data storage. This moratorium aims to provide the Township with time to study the potential impacts of data centers on health, safety, utilities, and infrastructure.
During this period, the Zoning Commission and Zoning Administrator Bryan Lucas are directed to develop a specific section within the Township Zoning Resolution to address data centers. The Trustees waived a second reading of the resolution, allowing for immediate approval of the moratorium.