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Residents urge 12-month moratorium on data centers; council to draft ordinance
Summary
Residents and a local group urged the Archbold Village Council to adopt a moratorium—proposed at 12 months—on data centers and certain industrial uses on land zoned agricultural while the village considers zoning revisions and studies; no formal moratorium was adopted at the March 2 meeting.
Residents and local advocates urged the Archbold Village Council on March 2 to pause new data-center and industrial development on land zoned for agriculture while the village studies environmental, health and zoning impacts.
Todd Kindinger, speaking for Citizens for Responsible Development, presented a report by Richard Klein of Community Environmental Defense Services and said the report "serves as a legitimate basis for this moratorium." Kindinger and other speakers asked the council to use precautionary time to complete studies and potential ordinance changes before permitting large campus-style developments.
Sarah Cromly said the group was not seeking a 36-month pause but rather a 12-month moratorium that could be extended if studies and ordinance work were incomplete. "We believe a 12-month moratorium is sufficient time to avoid potential lawsuits while also giving the Village reasonable time to change ordinances, revamp zoning and complete the necessary studies," Cromly said.
Resident Jason Whitehead cited regional marketing materials and environmental concerns and warned of a drafted Ohio EPA permit. "Ohio EPA has recently drafted and published proposed permit NPDES Permit No. OHD000001 which would allow every data center currently existing in the state of Ohio ... and new ones to discharge untreated wastewater directly into Ohio rivers and streams," Whitehead said, adding that construction-phase jobs are far larger than long-term staffing at such facilities.
Councilmembers and Village staff did not vote to enact a moratorium at the meeting. Village Administrator Aaron Alt told the public the Ordinance and Resolution Committee had recommended Alt draft proposed moratorium legislation; Alt and others described the multi-step process by which drafts will be reviewed by legal counsel, the Planning Commission and the public before any ordinance is adopted.
Several speakers raised ethics and transparency concerns after discussion that some council members previously signed nondisclosure agreements with developers. Councilman Gary Dominique said he was released from his NDA with Iron Ridge on Feb. 25, 2026 and invited residents to request the termination document; Councilman Aaron Babcock said Dominique had excluded himself from related votes.
Alt outlined the zoning-review steps and said the village had solicited proposals from Columbus attorneys to review the zoning code, estimating a review cost of about $25,000; he said Planning Commission and Council public hearings would follow legal review and drafting.
Mayor Brad Grime said Council would continue to update residents and pledged transparency as drafting proceeds. The council did not adopt a moratorium at the March 2 meeting; the Ordinance and Resolution Committee's recommendation to draft moratorium language is a procedural step and not a formal legislative action.
