Wilmington residents sue city over proposed Amazon Web Services data center, zoning change notices

Residents of Wilmington, Ohio, led by Jessica Sharp of Wilmington Residents for Responsible Development, have initiated a legal challenge against the City of Wilmington over a proposed Amazon Web Services data center. The lawsuit claims city officials failed to provide proper public notice for crucial zoning text and map amendments that designated data centers as a permitted use in light industrial zones. Sharp asserts the city is bound by law and must adhere to proper notification procedures, alleging that required public notices were not published and mailed correctly. The complaint also includes claims that the map amendment was potentially arbitrary and raises inverse condemnation claims, asserting that the city effectively took or damaged property without just compensation. While Amazon Web Services owns the property for the hyper-scale data center, the company is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Sharp's group plans to seek an injunction to halt the project until the legal issues are resolved. Residents express concerns about the data center's compatibility with light industrial zoning, citing potential adverse effects like noise, air quality, and light pollution on neighboring properties.