Commission advances zoning text amendments, including proposed ban on data centers

Planning staff told the Dayton City Commission that three zoning text amendments are intended to manage land‑use conflicts and protect residential neighborhoods. Jeff Green of the planning department said the measures would cap new gas stations and car washes near intersections and residential areas and add design standards for canopies. He said the most consequential change would define and restrict "data centers," recommending a ban on data centers as a primary use because of regional impacts, continuous operational noise and limited local job creation.

"Banning a use is always a big deal," Jeff Green said, explaining that staff recommended the prohibition after months of research and community outreach and because data centers consume large tracts of land while producing comparatively few local jobs. He added that plan board voted 6–2 in support after revisions at their April meeting.

Commissioners asked whether the definition would inadvertently prohibit hospitals or other large employers from expanding necessary on‑site servers. Green responded that accessory servers and backup systems for existing institutions would remain permitted; the proposal targets primary, site‑dominant data center uses. Commissioner Fairchild pressed for clarity on whether a single room could be treated as a primary use; staff said the rule would treat a primary data‑center use anywhere in a building as subject to the restriction.

The proposed gas station and car wash limits would: set a practical cap (an example cited was two facilities within 1,500 feet at intersections before additional review is required), require a buffer to residential zoning, and impose canopy and facade standards to improve aesthetics. Green said the changes would allow more diverse commercial uses at key corridors and reduce future redevelopment complications tied to fuel‑station infrastructure and underground storage tanks.

Public testimony at the hearing largely favored the data‑center restriction and expressed concern about overconcentration of vehicle‑oriented uses along commercial corridors. After discussion, the commission closed the public hearing and made a motion to move the text amendments forward for the next procedural steps, signaling support for additional refinement and subsequent readings. Ordinance language related to these amendments was introduced as first reading (Ordinance No. 32194‑26). The commission did not adopt final ordinance language at the meeting; the action taken was to advance the amendments for further review and process.