By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The Middleton Township Zoning Commission gave local residents something to cheer about – literally – Wednesday evening. But neighbors opposing continued expansion of the Meta data center property are aware their victory may be short lived.
By a vote of 4 to 1, the township zoning commission rejected a motion to recommend approval of a zoning change for 39.2 acres at the northwest corner of the Meta data center under construction.
Voting against the rezoning were Mike Bostdorff, Gary Ehrmin, Jon Ellerbrock and Dave Zuchowski. Voting in favor was Russ Fought.
This latest zoning change request will next go to the Middleton Township Trustees, who have the final say. Last month, by a vote of 2-1, the trustees voted to change zoning for another 32 acres that Meta officials said would “bring harmony” to the data center site.
At that meeting, Trustee Melissa Petrea cast the lone “no” vote and pointed out that her goal was to create harmony for township residents – not Meta.
Both the 39 and the 32 acre requests were made to create more “temporary” parking space and another retention pond during construction of the data center. With more than 1,000 construction workers on the site, more parking space has become necessary, according to Meta officials.
On Wednesday evening, Meta’s attorney, Chris Ingram, said this most recent zoning change from A-1 agricultural to M-1 light industrial is needed “to round out” the data center campus.
But neighbors are left wondering when Meta will be done “rounding out” its campus. One expressed disbelief that Meta didn’t realize until now that it needed more parking space.
This latest zoning change would allow Meta to “expedite” the construction, which neighbors should appreciate, Ingram said.
“I think everyone would agree it’s in everybody’s interests” to keep all the construction vehicles on the Meta campus, he said. The alternative would be “less ideal” and involve relocating vehicles south of Ohio 582.
Ingram also stressed that the requested zoning change is consistent with the county’s land use plan.
“The reality is, as we all know, that land is not going to be farmed going forward,” Ingram said of the 39 acres of currently agricultural land on Ohio 25 at the northern edge of the Meta site.
But many of the 40 neighbors of the data center at Wednesday’s meeting didn’t view the zoning change as in their best interests.
To Sean McKenzie, of Dunbridge Road, the zoning change was just another “land grab” by Meta. Changing the zoning to light industrial is “not worth the temporary relief of parking” at the site.
Ed Puhala, of Devil’s Hole Road, also questioned why temporary parking would require a permanent zoning change. Once the zoning is changed, it would open up the acreage to far more uses beyond parking.
Another resident pointed out that the data center site keeps growing – starting out at 700 acres, and now at more than 1,100 acres including the power plant site.
Roy Miller, of Cross Creek Road, said the water level in his well has dropped since the Meta construction.
“I want to know where Ohio law protects people who need water to drink,” Miller said.
Diane Smith, of Perrysburg, asked who will help those people who lose drinking water.
“It’s going to take everything from people. It’s going to take peace and quiet,” she said.
Lauren Eggenton, of Haskins, voiced her environmental concerns about the impact on humans and wildlife. She called it “completely ridiculous” for the township to allow more land to be used for the data center.
“We should be focused on the people who live here, the animals who live here,” she said.
Diane Toffler, of Perrysburg, talked about the light pollution and runoff that neighbors will be subject to.
Chris Coultrip, of Thompson Road, talked about air pollution and noise pollution from the site. She also asked why a private company would be allowed to develop a property that will greatly increase demands on police, fire, EMS personnel and equipment.
“Don’t let them expand until we have answers,” Braden Leiner, of Hull Prairie Road, said.
“Let them put their foot in the door and they will stomp all over you,” Leatra Harper, of Bowling Green, said.
As he did at the previous township trustees meeting, Ingram told the trustees it was their legal duty to follow the county’s comprehensive land use plan and zone the property accordingly.
But Tenesha Ulrich, of Carter Road, pointed out that according to the Wood County Planning Commission, township officials are not bound by the county land use plan. It is a roadmap, not an order.
“You do not have to vote yes. You are your own entity,” Ulrich said to the zoning commission members.
