Commissioner: residents alarmed by proposed East Park data center; city schedules July 21 planning meeting

Commissioner Rhymer told the Board of City Commissioners May 28 that she and other members have received many calls from residents alarmed by social-media posts about a proposed data center in East Park, roughly 10 miles outside Ashland city limits. She said the city has a moratorium on data-center development within city limits while the planning department evaluates potential impacts and zoning implications.

Rhymer encouraged residents to rely on credible sources rather than social media for details and announced a public Planning Commission meeting on July 21 at 2 p.m. in the commission chambers that will include discussion of data centers. The moratorium, she said, gives staff time to research how a data center could affect the community and to prepare information for that public hearing.

The commission did not take formal action on the East Park proposal at the May 28 meeting; the item is on a future Planning Commission agenda for public review and comment.