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Residents and township trustees urge commissioners to block Trenton annexation, seek moratorium on hyperscale data centers
Summary
Residents and Lemon Township trustees urged Butler County commissioners to halt a Trenton annexation that would enable hyperscale data centers, requested environmental and traffic studies, and asked the board to pursue a countywide moratorium pending township consensus.
Commissioners heard sustained public opposition to the City of Trenton's proposed annexation and the prospect of hyperscale data centers during the April 21 meeting of the Butler County Board of Commissioners.
County administration staff told commissioners they had polled all six townships that fall under county zoning authority and found four (Oxford, Ross, Lemon and Milford) in favor of a moratorium on data centers but that Hanover wanted further trustee discussion and Madison planned a special meeting on April 29, leaving no unanimous countywide consensus. The administrator said moratorium language is being drafted with the prosecutor's office but that commissioners likely should wait for full township responses.
Multiple residents pressed the board to act. Pat Kaye (Liberty Township) asked the commissioners to place traffic, noise, water‑usage and stormwater impact studies on the record before any land-use actions proceed, saying he had found conflicting zoning information about the site. Amy Humbert (Trenton) called the annexation a "land grab," said city leaders gave residents short notice and asked commissioners to deny the request. Michael Garber, a Lemon Township trustee, said township residents voted overwhelmingly at a recent meeting against data centers and urged the board to move on a moratorium.
Amanda Birdwell, a Monroe resident, urged the board to "say no to data centers in Butler County," listing concerns about massive water and energy consumption, 24/7 noise and light pollution, potential impacts on property values and limited local jobs or long‑term tax benefit from hyperscale facilities. Several commenters requested third‑party studies and said they had not been provided surveys, environmental reports or water‑quality testing related to the proposed projects.
County officials emphasized statutory limits on applying zoning changes to individual townships and recommended coordinating with regional officials and township trustees. The board did not adopt a moratorium at the April 21 meeting; administrators said they would await additional township responses and could bring draft moratorium language back to the board.
The commissioners listed the next meeting as April 28, at which a TEFRA public hearing for The Christ Hospital refinancing will be conducted; staff said the moratorium item may be discussed at a subsequent meeting depending on township input.
