Plain City staff urges conditional‑use approach to future data center proposals

Plain City Council heard a staff presentation on data centers and potential local policy changes, with staff stressing that "there are 0 requests for data centers in the Plain City municipal limits" and proposing proactive zoning changes.

At the meeting a staff presenter identified as Miss Lupton summarized a regional report and argued that the village should treat each data‑center proposal individually rather than adopt a blanket ban. "We are recommending a path forward ... to update our zoning to make data centers a conditional use in the areas where they're already concurrently permitted, such as industrial areas," she said, and recommended adding requirements for building height, screening of equipment, noise regulations and environmental oversight.

Council members pressed on specific concerns: water consumption, potential emissions and neighborhood siting. One council member asked whether the village should pause approvals with a temporary moratorium; Miss Lupton said pausing is an option some nearby communities used but cautioned it may not be legally decisive and that the village currently has time to prepare because no applications are pending.

Members generally favored retaining local review authority and case‑by‑case evaluation. Council asked staff to prepare draft conditional‑use language and tighter permitting standards and to present those drafts to Planning and Zoning (PNZ) with the expectation of a review cycle aimed at April. The staff presentation referenced a regional LUC report and maps showing approved projects in neighboring jurisdictions.

Next steps: staff will draft conditional‑use definitions and permit standards and route them through Planning & Zoning for review; the council signaled support for a case‑by‑case regulatory framework rather than an immediate ban.