Archbold council favors conditional-use approach over total ban on data centers, plans to hire specialist counsel

Archbold Village Council on April 20 held a work session with the Planning Commission to review a first draft of zoning amendments aimed at regulating data centers. After discussion, council members favored a strict conditional‑use standard over a full ban and agreed to hire outside counsel with specialized experience in data‑center zoning to help draft legally durable language.

Mayor Brad Grime opened the session presenting two options: a total prohibition or a conditional‑use framework. Councilman Chad Kern and Councilwoman Karla Ball voiced opposition to a hard ban, with Kern citing the likelihood of immediate lawsuits in other municipalities that attempted bans and Ball warning that the draft’s current language — including a definition of "high technology manufacturing facility" — could unintentionally restrict non‑data‑center businesses the village wants to attract.

Planning & Zoning Inspector Grant Schaffner noted the draft is preliminary and that the village may adjust language as state studies on data centers emerge. "As the State completes their studies on data centers, the Village can also adjust their zoning draft as more information comes out," Schaffner said, emphasizing that the draft is fluid and subject to legal and Planning Commission review. He also cautioned that overly specific regulatory text can be vulnerable to legal challenge once codified.

Council and Planning Commission members discussed workforce and community impacts. Kern questioned where a large facility would find hundreds of general‑labor employees and worried operators might bus workers in; Kevin Baez of the Planning Commission countered that local employers have filled roles when wages are competitive.

Environmental and nuisance concerns were raised. Resident Sarah Cromly asked whether the draft addresses air, noise or light pollution; staff said the village currently relies on federal EPA rules, Wood County Building Inspections and the Ohio Building Code for technical inspections. Kim Murry urged the council to consider language to restrict pollution from temporary diesel generators often used by data centers, saying tighter generator rules could make siting less attractive.

Councilmembers said they want the conditional‑use standards to clearly protect lighting, environmental and property‑value considerations and to avoid language that would be interpreted to bar desirable manufacturers. Council concluded the moratorium on data‑center applications provides short‑term protection while staff prepares a more concrete draft; the council will seek specialist legal review, a process council members estimated could take several months.

Next steps: staff will refine the conditional‑use draft to address environmental and lighting protections and to clarify approval findings; the council will retain outside counsel to review the draft before formally sending it to the Planning Commission for public hearings.