New Franklin Council OKs halt on data center permits in city
New Franklin City Council has approved a six-month moratorium on new data center applications, citing concerns over high electricity and water usage. Mayor Steve Rector expressed that data centers are not a good fit for the community, while one councilman voted against the measure, arguing that existing conditional use zoning would suffice.
The New Franklin City Council in Ohio enacted a six-month moratorium on all new data center applications on May 20, joining several other Northeast Ohio communities. The decision was driven by concerns over the significant electricity and water consumption associated with data centers.
Mayor Steve Rector articulated his belief that data centers are not a suitable fit for New Franklin, despite their classification as a conditional use in the city's updated land-use code. Councilman Kevin Powell emphasized the need to clearly define what constitutes a data center, noting the rapid evolution of the technology. Councilman Jim Cotts cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing that existing conditional use zoning procedures, which include review by Planning and Zoning and public hearings, would be sufficient to manage data center proposals without a temporary ban.