Council approves 1-year moratorium on data centers
Fairborn City Council approved a 12-month moratorium on new data center builds and other facility types. This pause allows the city to review and recommend zoning amendments, addressing concerns like water consumption and noise associated with data centers.
The Fairborn City Council has unanimously approved a temporary 12-month moratorium on the construction of new data centers, self-storage facilities, convenience stores, gas stations, and car washes. City Manager Mike Gebhart stated that the pause will provide the city with crucial time to evaluate existing regulations and recommend zoning amendments through the Planning Board and City Council processes.
Fairborn City Planner Kathleen Riggs highlighted water consumption and noise as primary reasons for including data centers in the moratorium. She also cited land consumption for self-storage facilities and potential traffic impacts for gas stations, convenience stores, and car washes as factors. The resolution aims to ensure intentional future development, given the limited commercial and industrial land available in Fairborn.
Councilman Brian Dodd supported the initiative, acknowledging the unknown aspects of data centers and the need for a solid response to citizen questions. Mayor Dan Kirkpatrick expressed concerns about data centers, emphasizing the importance of a strategic review despite the city's limited land for large-scale projects. The moratorium does not halt economic development in other sectors, focusing specifically on the identified facility types.