MONCLOVA TOWNSHIP – Tabled. Continued. Tabled. Approved.
Those were Monclova Township trustees’ decisions regarding four proposed zoning resolution amendments – including two relating to data centers – that landed on their desk for final approval on June 15.
After the trustees enacted a one-year moratorium on data centers in February, Zoning Administrator Eric Wagner began working on zoning resolution changes to send to the Lucas County Planning Commission, which reviewed them in April. Currently, if a data center developer wants to locate in the township, the zoning resolution requires applying for a conditional use permit, with the township Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) setting the conditions.
The first proposed change looks at how much flexibility the BZA would have in setting those conditions. The county approved the language and forwarded it to the township zoning commission, which made its own recommendations – including replacing the word “shall” with “may” when it comes to requiring conditions, including landscaping, screening, parking, hours of operation and lighting. Law director Dawn Sanderson said “may” would give the BZA more flexibility, while “shall” would limit what the BZA could do.
“It’s to add protection to the community, letting the BZA, in their hearings, create additional parameters,” she said. “When you put in ‘shall,’ then suddenly you have limited what the BZA can do. ‘May’ gives them expression on each case-by-case review.”
Resident Ed Ciecka prefers “shall,” saying that too much discretion could be given to the BZA on a big issue such as a data center. Resident Lyn Cox agreed that “may” weakens the section and that she would suggest “require” plus another sentence to describe where the BZA does have flexibility.
“It’s not clear at all,” said Trustee Debbie Stevens-Laux, getting agreement from Trustees Chuck Hoecherl and Barbara Lang, who proposed tabling the issue and having it get further review.
A section defining auxiliary electric generators was also tabled. The recommended language states that these generators can only use natural gas or propane, and that use of other fuels must be approved by the BZA. Units must be in a free-standing enclosure for noise protection. And portable units are only allowed for emergency purposes. Such generators – if for commercial, industrial or multifamily units – would be allowed 300 feet or more from the nearest lot line of adjacent residential areas, and 20 feet if for residential use.
Resident Risa Sindel pointed out that the language doesn’t regulate how many are allowed, and that a data center could have hundreds of generators 300 feet from a home. She also noted that the language about the decibel levels coming from those generators is weak. Wagner said the site plan review process would allow the township to limit the number of generators.
Other residents spoke about the public health impacts of the noise and emissions from multiple generators. Lang said the verbiage should define what constitutes an emergency that would permit a generator, and referred to time when Brandywine used portable generators to run their sprinklers for an extended period. Hoecherl also recommended looking at outlining how many generators should be permitted based on the size of the facility. And Stevens-Laux said commercial and residential generators should not be lumped into the same code.
The trustees asked Wagner to seek more information and return with suggestions.
A third proposed change, meant to limit the types of business in the Maumee Monclova Toledo JEDZ to those that would generate income tax, was tabled as well in order to better define what number of employees would be required. The purpose of the JEDZ is to generate income, but automated businesses like self-storage or car washes with kiosks do not meet that goal.
“We have colleagues that have figured this out,” said Administrator Mike Hampton. “We’ll do some homework.”
The fourth component of the public hearing focused on how to best notify residents of Zoning Commission meetings. A change in state law now allows the township flexibility to not use a newspaper, which Sindel pointed out limits the information to only those who have a subscription. She encouraged trustees to use their website and Facebook, and resident John Langevin said including the meeting notices on the MyMonclova app would reach more residents. Trustees agreed that these methods of getting the word out to residents would work best, except when it comes to public notices for Ohio Public Works Commission projects. To get reimbursed, Hampton said he would need an affidavit, and that’s not available by posting online.
Trustees approved of the language for the zoning notifications, but tabled the other three.
During the meeting, the trustees also:
-Discussed taking a second look at becoming a limited home rule government. In Nov. 2024, the issue was put to voters, but it didn’t pass. Becoming limited home rule would allow the township to retain control over zoning and expand its ability to handle nuisances – such as noise, junk cars and tall grass – more effectively, Hampton said. The trustees agreed and asked Hampton to come up with a plan to move forward. Getting it on the ballot in November would require board approval in July.
-Heard that roundabout construction for Albon and Monclova Road is expected to begin on Monday, June 22, which is much later than the mid-May date originally planned. This is due to delays in getting utility poles moved. Hampton said the project is expected to last 45 days, during which time a detour will be posted. This will delay the start on the Monclova and Waterville-Monclova road mini roundabout until early August, and Hampton is in discussions with the county, post office and schools about the impact of construction. The first day of school is Aug. 17. With the delay for the two projects, Hampton said plans to install a roundabout at Albon and U.S. 20A are in jeopardy of being delayed until next year.
-Approved the 2027 budget as presented by Fiscal Officer Gavin Pike. The budget is due June 30 and reflects collections of just under $15 million and proposed expenditures of $17.5 million – although not all of the items in the budget will be purchased in 2027, Pike noted. Projects and purchases in the budget include approximately $1.7 million for Strayer Road resurfacing; $100,000 to repave the maintenance facility parking lot; $240,000 for 911 dispatching; $900,000 for the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office; $1.2 million for garbage collection; and $115,000 for refurbishing the tennis courts. Also included in the budget are funds for another full-time administrative aide, a full-time maintenance worker, and full-time firefighter/EMTs. As it did last year, the budget also contains $2 million for land acquisition, but no properties have yet been identified specifically, Pike said.
-Learned that the fire department handled 193 incidents in May.
-Heard Cox ask trustees to share their position on data centers. Hoecherl said he’s publicly shared that he’s not in favor of a hyperscale data center but doesn’t want to put the township in a position of being litigated into bankruptcy for just opposing any proposed project. Lang echoed her previous statements that she will not state an opinion, as that would show bias and therefore require her to recuse herself from a vote.
