Council hears Norton Energy Storage amendment request; first reading set for August

Council members on July 21 heard an initial explanation of an amendment to a development agreement with Norton Energy Storage LLC and introduced Ordinance No. 72-20-25 for first reading only.

City staff said the existing development agreement gives the city the option to buy the former PPG mine if the developer does not complete development by Sept. 1. Norton Energy Storage asked to extend that date to Dec. 31 while the company proceeds through the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals processes. City staff said any eventual use of the property would require Planning Commission review and a council amendment to the development agreement.

A council member asked whether Norton Energy Storage is affiliated with PPG. Staff replied the project is proposed by a separate company that acquired the former PPG mine after a sale by FirstEnergy and that the specific project — described by staff as a data center project — will be before the Planning Commission the next day.

Council moved to add the ordinance to the agenda for first reading only; the motion passed on a roll call vote. Council discussed the developer's request that, after recess in August, the council consider waiving the third reading so a final decision could be made by Sept. 1 if appropriate, but no final action on that was taken at the July 21 meeting.

Staff and council noted that any extension of the purchase deadline is administrative and that planning approvals remain required before any change in land use or development agreement terms would take effect.