Waterville council adopts six‑month moratorium on data‑center permits

Waterville, Ohio — The Waterville City Council on Monday voted to impose a six‑month moratorium on new applications and permits for data centers and related ancillary facilities, saying the pause will give elected officials and staff time to study zoning language, environmental impacts, and infrastructure needs before allowing new projects.

The moratorium — adopted as Resolution 34‑25 with an amended six‑month timeframe — was introduced by Council Member Wayne Wagner and carried on a roll‑call vote. Mayor Pedro announced that the council would set measurable benchmarks during the pause and said staff and councilmembers would report progress at regular intervals.

The moratorium was the culmination of extended public comment and council debate that ranged from environmental and public‑health concerns to economic and legal risks. “We are asking you for this moratorium,” Lisa Weber, a Waterville resident and organizer of neighborhood concerns, told the council, urging time for due diligence on water use, emissions and cooling systems. Another resident, Paul Miller, warned of legal and economic fallout if the city did not act, saying residents…