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Defiance holds public forum on data centers as council prepares zoning changes and possible moratorium
Summary
Mayor Mike McCann and Zoning Commissioner Nikki Wernicke presented proposed zoning changes aimed at regulating data centers; residents raised concerns about water use, noise, decommissioning and a petition to ban data centers on November’s ballot.
Mayor Mike McCann opened a packed public forum focused on potential data-center development and the city’s proposed zoning response, saying the goal was to “share accurate information, and have a respectful conversation about what is best for Defiance.” City zoning staff and administrators outlined how development applications are processed and where residents will receive official notice.
Zoning Commissioner Nikki Wernicke explained the city’s options: leave data centers as a by-right industrial use (site-plan review only), require a conditional-use permit in M districts (which includes notifications and site-specific conditions), or create an overlay district. Wernicke said planning commission recommended using conditional-use permits in the M district so the commission can impose setbacks, buffering, hours and other site-specific requirements. The mayor and staff stressed existing code elements (setbacks, lighting standards and Defiance’s noise ordinance, cited as Defiance codified ordinances §509.08) would apply and be enforceable.
