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Twinsburg planning commission finds data center comparable use; council begins code changes
Summary
The Twinsburg planning commission approved a similar-use determination for a proposed data center and council introduced code amendments to define "data center" and update related zoning text; planning commission vote was 5-0 and council held first readings of related ordinances and a confirming resolution.
Twinsburg planning commissioners voted unanimously to treat a proposed data center as a use similar to those allowed in the city's Innovation and Manufacturing (IM) zone, and City Council on Aug. 25 advanced related zoning text amendments to first reading.
The determination matters because the company's proposal did not fit a named use in the updated zoning code. Mr. Barr, a council member reporting on the planning commission, said the panel approved the similar-use finding and a conditional-use permit by a 5-0 vote.
Planning commission and council officials told the meeting the proposed facility is “essentially a warehouse,” but “uses a lot more power than a regular warehouse” and would have a limited number of employees. The commission’s action allows the project to proceed under the IM zone’s conditional-use framework while the council considers a matching definition and code updates.
At the council meeting, Resolution 85-20-25 — “confirming the planning commission’s determination pursuant to section 11.03.03 that data center is a use that is functionally the same as the use is conditionally permitted in the IM Innovation and Manufacturing Zone” — stood on first reading. Ordinance 86-20-25, which would add a definition for “data center” to section 11.28.04 of the codified ordinances, also stood on first reading.
In his report, Mr. Barr summarized other planning-and-zoning text amendments the planning commission reviewed, including updates required to maintain the city’s compliance with Ohio’s general stormwater-permit language, revised cemetery definitions, changes addressing a conflict between downtown-district rules and a cluster-home design provision in the R-5 zone, sign-code language tied to section 1116.01(F) about removing signs in the public right-of-way, and an architectural detail preventing front-loading garages from projecting past the front building wall. Barr described several items as housekeeping or cut-and-paste errors corrected by staff.
Barr said the planning commission issued the similar-use finding and conditional-use approval at the same 5-0 vote and that any developer proposals will return through the normal permitting steps. He also noted the next planning commission meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
No City Council votes on the data-center resolution or definition occurred at the meeting; both items remain at first reading. Council members did not debate or amend the proposals on the record during the session.
Council and planning staff will consider the proposed definition and any development applications in future meetings; public hearings or additional permit steps may follow per the city’s planning process.
