Resident warns of AI/data center at Highland Road; council asks staff to investigate

Laurie Facsina warned Twinsburg City Council that a facility at 2000 Highland Road appears to operate as an AI/data center and described possible local impacts including heavy water use, higher electric bills, and effects on property values.

Facsina said she observed visible condensation and identified the site as the former Verizon property. She cited illustrative figures — "243,000 gallons" and an equivalence she described as "124,000 showers a day" — to underscore large water demands and urged council to prohibit AI data centers in the community, suggesting voters be asked to ban them by charter or code change.

Councilmembers responded in the meeting: one member said they had not realized Verizon was no longer occupant and asked staff (Miss Ziegler) to find out how the facility was permitted and whether it complies with existing code. Another councilmember reported attending an Ohio Municipal League session on data centers and said Ohio ranks fourth nationally for data-center presence and that growth is expected; the member said the city code contains no explicit mention of data centers and said a moratorium could be discussed at a future meeting.

No legislative action or moratorium was proposed or adopted at the Feb. 24 meeting. Councilmembers encouraged staff follow-up so the city can determine whether the facility at 2000 Highland Road is operating within local rules and, if not, what remedies are available.

What happens next: Council asked staff to investigate the property's status and reporting back to council; no permit revocation or emergency action was taken at the meeting.