How to tell Cincinnati officials your input on regulating data centers
Cincinnati's Planning Department is holding public meetings to gather input on how to regulate data centers within the city's zoning code. This follows the City Council's approval of temporary rules establishing an Interim Development Control Overlay District, which requires additional review for new or expanding data centers until permanent regulations are defined.
The Cincinnati Planning Department has scheduled two public meetings for residents to provide input on proposed regulations for data centers within the city's zoning code. These meetings, one virtual on October 1st and another in-person on October 19th at the Walnut Hills Branch Library, aim to inform recommendations on defining data centers and specifying their permissible locations. The department is currently conducting a zoning study, examining how other cities manage data center zoning.
Earlier this year, the Cincinnati City Council, following approval by the Cincinnati Planning Commission, enacted temporary rules through an Interim Development Control (IDC) Overlay District. This IDC imposes an additional layer of review for new or expanding data center projects in areas where they are currently permitted, affecting over 22,000 parcels across six zoning districts. The temporary measures ensure that applications for building permits, certificates of compliance, or site improvements for data centers undergo Planning Commission review, rather than administrative approval, until permanent regulations are established.