Urbana Council advances zoning repeal, cybersecurity plan; approves airport funding requests
The Urbana City Council is advancing legislation to reverse previous zoning code changes that would have allowed data center development in light industrial zones. This action follows public discussions regarding potential large-scale data center projects. The proposed ordinance aims to restore the zoning code to its prior, more restrictive version regarding data centers.
The Urbana City Council met on Tuesday, initiating legislation to roll back recent zoning changes that previously facilitated data center development within the city's light industrial zones. The proposed Ordinance 4634-26, which underwent its first reading, seeks to reinstate Chapter 1126 of the city's zoning code to its pre-existing version before the passage of Ordinance 4621-25. This move aligns with a unanimous recommendation from the Urbana Planning Commission on May 19 to remove language that permitted uses related to computer servers, web hosting, and data processing facilities.
The legislative effort follows public discourse concerning potential large-scale data center projects near the intersection of U.S. Route 68 and Ohio Route 55. A special meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 9, for a public hearing and the second reading of the ordinance, with a third reading still required before a final vote by the council.
Additionally, the council advanced legislation for a formal cybersecurity program for the City of Urbana, adhering to Ohio Revised Code Section 9.64. This program, based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, includes information security policies and incident response plans, mandates annual employee training, and designates a Cybersecurity Responsible Person. The council also approved emergency resolutions for grant applications to the Ohio Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation for airport improvement programs in State Fiscal Year 2027.