On April 1, the Cincinnati City Council voted to extend temporary restrictions on new data center construction in Cincinnati, Ohio through the end of 2026.
The restrictions were first introduced in February for three months to give the city’s planning department time to conduct a zoning study. According to Councilman Mark Jeffreys, the study will examine how data center development could affect more than 22,000 parcels across downtown, industrial, and manufacturing zones.
“We don’t even have a classification for data centers,” Jeffreys said. “This will classify it… without that, we’re flying blind.”
Before the council’s action, data center projects could move forward automatically as long as they complied with existing zoning rules.
New Review Process in Place
While the study is underway, an Interim Development Control Overlay District will remain active. This creates a formal review process for any proposed data center project.
Developers must now submit plans to the city’s planning department, which will evaluate proposals and send recommendations to the planning commission. Projects will be reviewed based on factors such as neighborhood compatibility, water and energy usage, environmental impact, and public benefits.
Jeffreys said the city expects a few proposals to be reviewed under the new system in the coming weeks.
“We want to do this very thoughtfully,” he said. “We don’t want to ban it, but we also don’t want projects to move forward automatically before we establish the right regulations.”
Existing Data Centers and Future Concerns
According to DataCenterMap.com, there are currently 27 data centers operating in the Greater Cincinnati area, including several near downtown. Many of these are smaller facilities used by major companies like Procter & Gamble, Kroger, and Fifth Third Bank.
Jeffreys noted that unlike the massive data centers seen in rural areas, most in Cincinnati are smaller and office-based.
Jobs and Long-Term Planning
City officials are also evaluating the economic impact of data centers. While construction projects create temporary jobs, long-term employment opportunities tend to be limited.
“Most data centers, after they’re built, don’t provide many jobs per acre,” Jeffreys said.
As a result, the city aims to create zoning policies that balance growth with community needs—ensuring both smaller facilities and larger developments are planned responsibly.
Leave a Comment