Maysville data center proposal moves toward final approval despite lawsuit

The Mason County Joint Planning Commission voted 4-1-1 to recommend approval for a large-scale data center development, despite a recently filed lawsuit by Mason County residents seeking to block the project. Commissioner Kirby Rosser raised concerns during the meeting about proceeding with a recommendation while litigation was pending, prompting the commission to enter an executive session to discuss the legal implications. Upon returning from the closed session, the commission immediately voted to move the 28-property rezoning plan to the Mason County Fiscal Court for final consideration, with Rosser casting the lone dissenting vote. Max Moran, a leader in the local opposition, expressed hope that the lawsuit could force a restart of the process if a judge determines it was conducted illegally. All parties named in the lawsuit, including commission members, Planning and Zoning Commissioner George Larger, and Judge Executive Owen McNeil, declined to comment on the pending litigation. Developer attorney Tanner Nichols also declined comment.