ASHVILLE, Ohio — Ashville Village Council has approved an ordinance imposing a 180-day moratorium on new data center development, a move that could slow or temporarily halt progress on a proposed large-scale data center project as public opposition continues to intensify.
The vote came during a crowded council meeting where many residents wore red shirts or “No Data Center” buttons to show resistance to the development, including a proposed EdgeConneX facility. Yard signs opposing data centers have become increasingly common throughout the village as concerns mount over environmental impact, infrastructure strain, and community character.
Despite the moratorium, village officials cautioned residents that under current laws and zoning regulations, data centers are legally permitted in certain areas of Ashville. Newly elected Mayor warned attendees that the village’s existing zoning code allows such development, limiting the village’s ability to outright block a project.
Village Administrator Bert K. Cline has publicly stated that Ashville has few legal options to stop a data center if a developer proceeds within the bounds of current regulations. Instead, he has advocated for working with developers to secure benefits for the community.
“There’s nothing Ashville can do to stop the data center,” Cline has said previously. “I would rather work with them to benefit the community than fight and lose.”
In a statement aimed at clearing up public confusion, Cline emphasized that the mayor, council, and administration are legally bound to follow existing ordinances, zoning laws, and a “Will Serve” letter adopted in February 2022 — all of which allow data center development.
“We can only plan for the future with the information we have at the time,” Cline said. “No one could have anticipated a data center wanting to come to Ashville.”
Cline also pointed to past decisions, including a 2004 CEDA agreement requiring annexation of certain township properties, noting that earlier leaders acted to protect Ashville from outside influence, though those decisions now create challenges. He stressed that no current village official is responsible for the conditions that allow the proposed project.
While developers are not required to offer compensation to the village, Cline said the proposal could present an opportunity if handled strategically. He warned that an unsuccessful legal fight could leave Ashville with the development — but without negotiated benefits such as infrastructure upgrades or environmental protections.
“If we fight this and do not prevail, we lose time, resources, and leverage,” Cline said. “Collaboration will go much further than creating adversarial relationships.”
At the state level, lawmakers have also weighed in. Ohio Rep. Brian Stewart, chair of the Ohio House Finance Committee, said legislators attempted to reduce incentives for data centers in the latest state budget by removing a sales tax exemption on construction materials. That provision was vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine, keeping the tax break intact.
Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) has criticized the exemption, questioning why data centers receive tax relief that other developments do not, and has expressed interest in overriding the governor’s veto.
Meanwhile, nearby South Bloomfield is taking a different approach. Village officials there recently adopted a new zoning code that does not list data centers as a permitted use and approved their own 180-day moratorium on new data center construction to allow for further review and public discussion.
South Bloomfield Mayor Aaron Thomas said the actions are meant to protect residents and ensure transparency as Pickaway County attracts increased interest from data center developers. Thomas also addressed rumors of a potential data center at the Crites Farm, saying the topic arose briefly during an October town hall meeting and no further discussions have taken place.
Thomas is also involved with the Protect Pickaway Alliance, a group focused on sharing information and raising awareness about data center development across the county, particularly in Ashville.
As Central Ohio continues to experience rapid growth in data center proposals, local governments across Pickaway County appear increasingly aligned in pressing pause — at least temporarily — as residents call for clearer answers, stronger protections, and greater local control.
