North Perry Village approves one-year ban on data centers (original) (raw)

North Perry Village has enacted a temporary prohibition against the establishment of data centers in the community.

Village Council, at its June 4 meeting, voted unanimously to impose a 12-month moratorium on the granting of permits for data centers. During that one-year stretch, the village Planning Commission also will review and update North Perry’s zoning code to establish regulations for the construction and operation of data centers.

“Right now, we really don’t have anything in our zoning to control (data centers) and it seems like most of the communities in the area are kind of heading in this direction to have control over what happens,” village Mayor Brian Titus said. “It doesn’t mean that we’re banning them or anything, we’re just going to get our zoning up to snuff.”

Last month, the trustees of Painesville Township and Madison Township each unanimously approved resolutions to adopt 12-month moratoriums on issuing permits for the development of data centers. During the freeze on permits, both communities’ governments will take time to study and discuss data centers, and ultimately decide if these businesses will be allowed within their borders.

Titus, during the North Perry Village Council meeting on June 4, said it might be a wise idea to hire an independent expert who could assist the community’s Planning Commission in creating new zoning regulations for data centers.

“That may take a little money at some point,” Titus said. “We don’t have to do that tonight, but I think we should prepare. You want to be proactive rather than reactive.”

Titus offered that advice to North Perry’s council at a time when a proposal to build a data center in nearby Perry Village has triggered strong public opposition. Similar protests against data center development have been taking place throughout the United States.

Data centers are facilities designed to house high-density server equipment, storage device and networking infrastructure, primarily used for processing, managing and storing digital information.

Province Group, a California-based company, has stated that the data center it wants to build in Perry Village would supply an abundant amount of tax revenue for the community, as well as additional payments to provide direct benefits to residents. But many residents have said they don’t want the facility built, claiming it would harm the environment, create excessive light and noise, and isn’t a good fit for a small, primarily residential community.

The resolution ratified on June 4 by North Perry Village Council stated that the 12-month moratorium will provide an opportunity “to determine how data centers will impact the village’s infrastructure, utilities, environment, residents and long-term planning goals, as well as to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare.”