Data centers – and the possibility of one locating on 1,000 to 1,400 acres in Waterville Township – dominated the conversation during two township meetings this week.
Waterville Township
During a May 5 special meeting, Waterville Township trustees agreed to ask the township zoning commission to meet on Tuesday, May 12 at 7 p.m. to consider adopting an amendment to the zoning code. That amendment would establish an M-3 campus industrial district, amend M-1 and M-2 industrial district regulations, add industrial tier classification standards and adopt related provisions.
While the Anthony Wayne Free Press was not present during that May 5 meeting, the township provided a copy of the 65-page document that outlines all of the definitions and provisions that the zoning commission members will need to review and discuss. Members of the Data Center Advisory Committee (DCAC) are expected to be in attendance as well.
The materials for the meeting, which include recommendations from Columbus law firm Brosius, Johnson and Griggs, will be posted at watervilletownship.com by the end of the week – along with any updates on the meeting location.
In a press release posted on the township’s Facebook page following the May 5 meeting, the trustees say the proposed zoning resolution is designed to “strengthen local control, protect residents, preserve the township’s rural and agricultural character, and ensure that any future large-scale data center or high-impact industrial campus faces a full and transparent zoning process.”
The township currently allows data centers in agriculturally zoned land with a conditional use permit (CUP), but in December 2025, trustees adopted a 12-month moratorium on data centers in order to form the DCAC, hire legal advice and look at other options.
In the press release, the trustees stated that the new M-3 Campus Industrial District will address large-scale, high-impact industrial development, including projects with major power, water, infrastructure, traffic, lighting, noise, stormwater and emergency-service demands.
“The resolution does not rezone any property to M-3 and does not approve any data center or industrial project. Instead, it creates stronger rules before any future project can be considered,” according to the press release.
“It is about making sure high-impact development cannot use a weak or inappropriate zoning pathway to enter agricultural land without the level of public review, technical scrutiny, and resident involvement these projects require.”
The press release also goes on to state the the conditional use permit process is not adequate protection for residents.
“A conditional-use permit process can make a use eligible within an existing zoning district so long as certain criteria are met. For a project as large and infrastructure-intensive as a data center, that is the wrong framework. It can reduce the issue to a narrower administrative review rather than requiring the broader zoning decision that a project of this scale deserves.”
Applying a zoning district such as M-3 to a specific property would require a separate zoning map amendment process. Ohio law provides public hearing procedures for township zoning amendments, and adopted township zoning amendments may be subject to referendum if statutory petition requirements are met.
“A conditional-use pathway can make it easier for data centers to move forward. A zoning-map amendment gives the community a stronger process, a clearer public record, and, where Ohio law allows, the possibility of referendum review by the voters,” trustees said.
The trustees emphasized that the proposed resolution is a text amendment only. It creates the M-3 zoning classification and related standards, but it does not apply M-3 zoning to any property. Any request to apply M-3 zoning to a specific parcel would require a separate zoning map amendment, public hearings, review under the township’s comprehensive plan, and compliance with Ohio zoning procedures.
“We are not approving any project,” the trustees said. “We are not rezoning land. We are putting protections in place so that if a major project is ever proposed, the Township and its residents are not stuck with an inadequate process.”
The goal is to fast-track changes to the resolution through the township and county in order to have them in place by mid-July.
Providence Township
Providence Township trustees are considering hiring the same attorneys as Waterville Township, in order to update its zoning resolution regarding data centers.
During the May 6 meeting, Zoning Inspector Jim Fischer – who serves in the same role for Waterville Township – told trustees of the changes that Waterville Township is considering. This comes as the Providence Township Zoning Commission nears the end of a months-long review of its zoning book. Commission Chair Jim Stang said the goal was to present it during public meetings for adoption within the next few months. However, with word that Waterville Township is looking at adding an M-3 designation, Fischer, Stang and the trustees agreed to seek additional guidance first.
Many of the zoning regulations in the township zoning resolution mirror those of Waterville Township, but Providence Township has different zoning overlay districts and fewer zoning designations, Fischer said. Making changes to the book will require having someone with expertise on where in the book to make changes. That’s why he suggested that trustees consider contacting the attorneys used by Waterville Township. Trustees authorized solicitor David Chamberlain to move forward.
“The goal is to make sure we have language in the book before someone like Apple comes forward and says they’re pulling a permit for a data center,” Fischer said.
The possibility of a data center in either township has Providence Township residents worried.
Resident Sara Smith asked the trustees to share how they feel about data centers.
“I don’t see any benefit,” said Trustee Steve Kendall.
Trustee Lee Bialecki said he doesn’t like the idea of taking away farmland. And Trustee Jeremiah Floyd said he’s worried about the possible drain on resources.
Schadel Road resident Jeff Rice urged trustees to get the word out to make sure that residents get their wells tested early, in order to show any impact a data center – either in or adjacent to the township – has on water flow and quality, in order to hold the developer accountable.
Rice brought up concerns about the impact on the fire/EMS services, air quality and wildlife, including bald eagles and rare plants or animals.
“I’ve been doing a lot of reading. There’s a lot of good information, and I’m sure there’s a lot of misinformation, but I think we can all agree that a data center in our township or Waterville Township is not a good thing for our community,” Rice said.
Rice got a call from someone recently who asked if he’d be interested in selling his home. Rice replied, “Sure, for $1 million,” then hung up. (*Note: the first posting of this story stated that Rice was offered $1 million, which is incorrect. This draft has been updated after Rice reached out to AWFP regarding a necessary correction).
“I hung up. We bought out here so we could retire – our forever home. We weren’t expecting it to be a data center,” Rice said.
“We are doing everything we can to be as prepared as much as we can. We’ll see what happens on the other side of the township line,” Kendall said.
