Alliance City Council restricts data center locations after public opposition

Alliance City Council has approved legislation to restrict future data center development within the city limits, confining them to I-2 industrial zones. The decision followed an emotionally charged public hearing that drew over 110 residents to the Alliance Area Senior Center.

During the hearing, residents vocalized strong opposition to data centers, citing concerns over potential strain on water use, power grids, noise pollution, and the impact of tax breaks. Some residents threatened to vote out council members who supported data center development and demanded an outright moratorium or ban on these facilities, with at least one individual suggesting a ballot initiative. Reverend Nick Myers Jr. emphasized the power of the residents' vote.

While Councilman Phillip Mastroianni described the zoning change as a "baseline" to protect residential and commercial areas, he expressed skepticism about a moratorium, fearing it might deter economic growth by signaling that Alliance is "not open for business." Other residents, like Stephanie Lambert and Aaron Maltarich, pointed to existing issues with the city's power system and water quality, including lead contamination concerns, urging the city to address these before inviting data centers.

Ashley Huff criticized tax abatements, referencing a 30-year, 75% property tax abatement granted to Amazon by Canton City Council and Perry Township trustees in Stark County, calling data centers "resource parasites." Conversely, Mark Fedor, CEO of Morgan Engineering, spoke in favor of data centers, highlighting their role as the "backbone of an economy" driven by the digital industry. Following the hearing, residents gathered signatures for a petition against data centers. There are no current proposals for new data centers, but more debates and actions are anticipated.