Findlay fast-tracks data center moratorium

FINDLAY — Findlay City Council rushed through a 12-month moratorium on new data centers in regular session Tuesday night, suspending its three-reading rule and approving the emergency measure after only brief discussion. The pause blocks any new data centers or conversions of existing buildings while the city reviews zoning rules and other regulations tied to the fast-growing industry. The moratorium follows weeks of debate over how data centers fit into Findlay's zoning code and whether the city is prepared for the industry's power demands, water use and long-term land-use impacts. Data centers are not defined anywhere in Findlay's zoning code, and city officials say that means the use is not permitted under the current code — a procedural gap, not a legally defensible long-term ban. Under Ohio law, the city cannot permanently exclude an entire category of lawful development. The ordinance was originally requested by councilmen Rodney Phillips, R-6, and Dan DeLong, R-7, who asked that it be written as an emergency when it was introduced earlier this month. Emergency language bypasses the 30-day waiting period after adoption and puts the moratorium into effect immediately. Council voted 10-0 to suspend its three-reading rule and move the ordinance to its final vote. The measure passed 9-1, with Councilman BJ Preston, R-2, opposed. City officials said the pause gives Findlay time to study infrastructure demands, jurisdictional questions, and fast-changing data-center technology after residents raised concerns about regional power capacity, supply-chain constraints and the financial volatility of the AI industry. During public comments, speakers urged council to slow down data-center development until the city can assess long-term impacts. One resident warned that regional power capacity may be insufficient to support large-scale facilities, citing unmet energy-generation targets and the risk of higher electricity costs or outages. Others pointed to semiconductor and GPU shortages and questioned whether rapid hardware turnover could leave new facilities underutilized. Another speaker raised concerns about corporate influence and public-private partnerships shaping infrastructure policy in ways that reduce local control. Preston, who cast the lone "no" vote, said the debate is being aimed at the wrong governing body. He said the Hancock County Board of Commissioners "really haven't addressed the issue," even though any large-scale data center development would occur in Hancock County rather than inside the city. He called the city's debate of the issue "naive." Preston said he has worked on data center projects and believes modern facilities are becoming more self-sufficient and use fewer utilities than older designs. He said there is "a second side to this that nobody seems to be talking about." Phillips said the moratorium gives the city time to research the industry, understand its infrastructure demands and update the zoning code before any proposals come forward. He said the pause is meant to give council space to learn the technology and prepare standards rather than rush into decisions without a framework.