Chillicothe — Mayor Luke Feeney discusses the data center issue and the city’s powers concerning it, as well as other considerations about developments at the former paper mill, in an interview.
With concerns about data centers in the news – and friction over allowing the “data hall” proposed by Alignment Engine Inc. on the “Chilpaco Innovation Campus,” I asked him for an interview.
This was an offer to respond to Portia Boulger, founder of “Appalachians Against Data Centers,” who had confronted Feeney and other city officials over the February letter the city sent to the developer of the proposed “data hall.”
Feeney declined the offer, and instead he and I spoke about the data center and the city. Our interview is below, in three parts.
He also soon produced a Facebook Reel video where he more thoroughly explained the city’s powers regarding zoning and other regulations:
“This short video lays out the facts and timeline as clearly as possible. My goal being to provide the public with accurate information, explain the process, and make clear the difference between a discussion or inquiry, a zoning interpretation, a formal application, an approval, and actual construction.
“Relevant documents can be found at this link.”
- He won’t comment on stories, but will comment on the process
- The “Universal Development Code (which replaced Zoning and other powers) was a 19-month process
- Regretfully, the process did not touch on data centers
- It was a “roller coaster of a year”
- The “zoning certification letter” regarding the possibility of a data center
- It was not a zoning certification or permission to proceed
- Such question and letter is almost always a first step
- He wishes the data center issue was as big then as now, because they would have considered it
- The state was still giving out incentives for data centers, until May
- The city did not get any other communications between February 20th and the July 2 announcement
- The city hired legal counsel to advise, then created the moratorium
- He wishes the moratorium had gone to committee for further review
- There are still no formal communications about the proposed data center
- There was only the email question from the developer
- That means the city can’t say es or no
- City’s rules still cover industrial zones: setback, sound, etc.
- The February letter is a typical hypothetical request, the start of a conversation
- The Universal Development Code was meant to be updated, and has been once already
- No matter what happens, data center regulation will go into the UDC
- The February letter was very generic, and was sent in an email so it was dated by the email
- Again, not want to address Portia Boulger’s statements
- What is his perspective on the proposed paper mill development, including restarting The Chief?
- The legal procedurals should be looked at completely separate from community impact by actual development
- The city has an absolute obligation to apply zoning rules
- There are lots of proposals there – he is excited about any opportunity to being back jobs
- The proposals are speculative, and can’t be guaranteed
- The city needs to be responsible about zoning, but also be supporting about jobs and business development
- Zoning is city-wide – rules should be applied the same everywhere, can’t spot zone
- Could there be a better solution than what has happened and is proposed?
- Considering the speed of purchase, moving equipment in, the energy, conversations – better than expected
- April 15: his birthday, and paper mill closing announced
- Across Ohio, paper mills have been closed for decades
- His role is to be excited, supported, enthusiastic, and trust…but verify
- He must budget for next year – but can’t budget on proposed jobs
- 350 more people would mean more income tax – but can’t bet on
- The city must be reserved, needs to see receipts
- But what about claims of backstage deals and corrupt officials? ; )
- Data centers have been controversial – other than covid, he has not seen anything evolve so quickly
- The state was incentivizing them through May
- Similar to the seeming overpopulation of solar fields and windmills?
- There is no solid data – only a presentation – is a proposal, a promise
- We are all here to do the best for the city
- This topic been so confusing, has created confusion, and challenges in communication has added to the confusion
- The goal of the moratorium was to slow down the process and listen to the community
- There is excitement around the paper mill redevelopment, but uncertainty around the data center
- And then my camera battery died
