Lordstown asks court to reject data center intervention
Lordstown Village officials have asked the Ohio Supreme Court to reject a request from developers seeking to intervene in a dispute over a frozen data center project. This comes after the Village Council extended a moratorium on data center applications for another 180 days, giving officials time to study impacts on utilities, the environment, and residents. Developers argue the freeze is unfair and violates their rights, while the village claims they never filed a formal permit application.
Lordstown Village officials have asked the Ohio Supreme Court to deny a request from developers seeking to intervene in an ongoing legal dispute regarding a data center project. This action follows the Village Council's unanimous vote to extend a moratorium on data center applications for an additional 180 days, pushing the freeze through the end of the year. The village states this pause is necessary to evaluate the impact of data centers on local utilities, the environment, and residents.
The developers, identified as Bristolville 25 Developer LLC and BHGH Properties LLC, aim to construct a data center campus on 133 acres near the former General Motors plant. They appealed to the Supreme Court prior to the moratorium extension, arguing that the combined freezes would unfairly stall their project for over 14 months and violate their rights.
In their response, attorneys for Lordstown and planning and zoning administrator Kellie Bordner countered that the developers are employing improper legal tactics to circumvent local regulations. The village also disputes the developers' claim of submitting a formal application in October, asserting that only preliminary sketches were provided for a basic site review, lacking required details such as stormwater management and environmental evaluations.
Village attorneys emphasized that the 180-day moratorium extension is reasonable for a complex issue with long-term community impacts. They argue that developers must adhere to local zoning procedures and can utilize standard appeals if they disagree with final village decisions. Local residents have also voiced concerns regarding the data center's high water and electricity consumption, potential noise pollution, and limited long-term job creation compared to manufacturing.