Vandalia staff outlines zoning options and possible moratorium as data centers expand in Ohio

Rob Cron, a city staff presenter, told the Vandalia City Council on April 6 that data centers are growing across Ohio and can range from small server facilities to hyperscale campuses exceeding a million square feet. He said hyperscale facilities often require 10 megawatts or more of power and can need on-site substations and backup generation, raising concerns about local grid impacts and potential effects on resident electricity rates.

Cron described water usage as another major issue, noting that water-cooled hyperscale facilities can draw substantial amounts for cooling (staff referenced instances cited in public sources of up to about 1 million gallons per day), and said closed-loop systems and advances in cooling technology can reduce but not eliminate those needs. He said those factors, plus noise and light concerns, have prompted other jurisdictions to adopt ordinances or moratoria while rules are drafted.

Staff pointed to several outside examples in the packet. Cron summarized Cincinnati’s overlay-district…