High court supports Lordstown leaders on data center
The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Lordstown officials were not required to continue reviewing Bristolville 25 Developers LLC's proposed data center site plan. The decision supports the village's moratorium and later extension, which halted the permitting process amid concerns about environmental impacts and strain on local energy and water systems.
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Lordstown officials acted within their authority when they stopped processing Bristolville 25 Developers LLC's site-plan review for a proposed four-building data center complex. The court said the developer had not completed the preliminary steps required to obtain a zoning permit and therefore had no clear legal right to compel the village to review the plan under the zoning rules that existed before the moratorium.
Lordstown officials first adopted a ban on data centers in late 2025, later replacing it with a six-month moratorium and extending the moratorium through the end of 2026. Mayor Jackie Woodward called the unanimous decision a significant victory for Lordstown and other Ohio municipalities. Village residents and Solicitor Matt Ries have cited potential environmental pollution, energy and water-system strain, higher utility bills and other impacts associated with the proposed facility, which was planned for 133 acres spanning Trumbull and Mahoning counties.