Vice chair of planning commission moves to ban data centers in Mason’s commercial and industrial zones; council sends text amendment to planning commission

A resident’s concerns about data‑center growth prompted Mason City Council on April 13 to direct staff to draft a zoning text amendment that would prohibit data centers in commercial and industrial zones.

Lalitia Acharya, who identified herself as a Mason resident and a candidate for state representative, told council data centers have grown rapidly across Ohio and recommended that Mason adopt ‘‘more stringent rules and regulations’’ on their development. She cited a recent Ohio legislative tax incentive she said provided ‘‘a $4,500,000 tax break to a data center that’ll create 10 jobs,’’ arguing that similar large facilities may be a poor use of land in a community with homes and small businesses.

In response, a council member who identified themself as the vice chair of the Planning Commission moved to ‘‘direct staff to initiate a zoning text amendment to prohibit data centers in commercial and industrial zones in Mason.’’ The mover said the proposal would go first to the Planning Commission for review and then return to council; a second was called and the motion passed with no recorded opposition.

Council members who spoke in favor urged staff to define precisely what size or load of facility the amendment would cover, noting that not all server rooms or small support centers should be banned. Council member Bennett said the city should ‘‘clearly define what data centers are’’ because the term covers a wide range of sizes and functions.

Next steps: staff will draft language for a zoning text amendment and present it to the Planning Commission; the council’s motion establishes the policy direction but does not itself change the zoning code. The Planning Commission will evaluate the draft and make a recommendation before the city moves to adopt an ordinance.