ASHVILLE, Ohio — Ashville Village Council voted Monday night to reject a proposed annexation tied to a large-scale data center project, citing concerns over local control, farmland preservation, and the importance of working collaboratively with neighboring communities under an updated CEDA agreement.
By a 4–2 vote, council members denied the annexation of approximately 400 acres of farmland sought in connection with the EdgeConneX data center project. The decision does not impact the roughly 200 acres already owned by EdgeConneX within Ashville village limits, where the company has previously stated it plans to build a data center.
The vote came during a nearly full council meeting, with many residents wearing red to show opposition to the project. Following the vote, several council members — Burke, Tethers, Clark, Scoby, and Martin — addressed the crowd, calling the decision difficult but necessary.
“Obviously, we had a very hard decision in front of us this evening,” one council member said. “That being said, I look forward to working with our local leaders in South Bloomfield and Harrison Township to hopefully get back on track with things.”
Council members emphasized that growth is coming to northern Pickaway County and that cooperation among local governments will be critical in shaping that growth responsibly.
Concerns were also raised about development pressures from outside the village. One council member referenced Columbus’ long-term planning efforts, noting the city owns property in Harrison Township near a quarry where a wastewater treatment plant has been discussed.
“They already have water and services on State Route 762,” the council member said. “It wouldn’t take much for them to provide services and then control what goes in there — not Ashville.”
Another council member stressed that the annexation decision should not be viewed strictly as a vote on data centers.
“For me, the annexation issue is a completely separate issue from the data center,” the council member said. “What I’m concerned about is people who do not reside in Pickaway County having control over what happens here.”
Council members also referenced the CEDA agreement, originally signed in 2013, acknowledging it is outdated and has been under revision for nearly two years. Several indicated the village remains committed to updating the agreement with Harrison Township, South Bloomfield, and Pickaway County to better manage future growth.
Harrison Township Responds to Columbus Property Concerns
Following the meeting, Kelly Spriggs of Harrison Township addressed concerns raised during council discussion and on social media regarding Columbus-owned property and infrastructure expansion.
Spriggs said the updated CEDA agreement has been under active development for nearly two years and was close to being finalized.
“The CEDA agreement that was originally signed in 2013 was outdated. We all knew it needed to be updated, and we’ve been working for almost two years to get that updated,” Spriggs said. “That agreement was being typed and was ready to be signed by representatives from Ashville, Harrison Township, South Bloomfield, and the county.”
According to Spriggs, the agreement is designed to protect township residents, neighboring farmland, and property owners near potential annexation areas.
“It protects the township, protects those residents who moved out of Ashville or into the country, and makes sure residents don’t feel infringed upon or that the city is moving closer to them,” Spriggs said.
Spriggs described Monday night’s meeting as a positive step forward.
“My take on tonight’s meeting was that there was a positive move,” she said. “Everything the council said was very positive in wanting to work together as northern Pickaway County to make sure our citizens, our residents, and our farmland are protected, and that we have a long-term plan for what we want to grow up to be.”
Addressing claims that Columbus plans to expand southward into Harrison Township, Spriggs pushed back on what she called misinformation.
“The City of Columbus has owned that property since the mid-1990s. This is not a secret,” she said. “There has been nothing that the Harrison Township Zoning Commission has heard or been notified about regarding a wastewater treatment plant.”
She also clarified concerns about water and sewer infrastructure along State Route 762.
“While water lines do run on the south side of 762, they can only provide water and sewer to the jet area on the north side,” Spriggs said. “They cannot service anything outside of that area, and that is part of a public agreement.”
Harrison Township Zoning Inspector Austin Cline also addressed online speculation, calling claims that the township intended to financially benefit from annexation false.
“All the Facebook warriors sitting at home saying Harrison Township wanted to take the money and pocket it — that’s fake news,” Cline said. “Absolutely nothing like that would have happened. It would have stayed beautiful.”
Cline urged residents to seek accurate information directly from township officials.
“If anyone wants to know what’s happening in Harrison Township or what our plans are, just ask,” he said. “Less is best.” was his last statement, aiming to leave Pickaway County more farmland and less noise.
While the annexation was denied, leaders from all sides emphasized that discussions are far from over — and that collaboration will be key as growth pressures continue in northern Pickaway County.
