By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
For neighbors who are asking if Meta is done swallowing up more land for its data center in Middleton Township, the answer is – not yet.
During two separate meetings Tuesday evening, the Middleton Township Trustees voted to approve the rezoning of 32 more acres for the data center project, and the Wood County Planning Commission voted to recommend another 39 acres be rezoned.
With more than 1,000 construction workers on the site, more parking space has become necessary, according to Meta officials.
Both zoning changes were requested to allow construction parking on the acreage bordering Ohio 25. The 32 acres are already owned by Meta, and the homes on them have already been razed.
Both votes were split. In Middleton Township, Trustee Melissa Petrea voted against the request, while Trustees Mike Moulton and Fred Vetter voted in favor of the zoning change.
Meta’s attorney, Chris Ingram, told the trustees it was their legal duty to follow the comprehensive plan and zone the property accordingly. He made the pitch that the zoning change made sense with the overall project, that it would be consistent with the land use plan for the area, and that it would bring harmony to the Meta campus.
Petrea explained that her goal was to create harmony for township residents. “I represent the residents. I don’t represent Meta,” she said.
The process
Zoning changes in townships go through three steps before a decision is made. First it goes before the county planning commission, which makes a recommendation to the township officials. Then it goes to the township zoning board for its recommendation. Then it goes to the township trustees, who make the final decision.
In the case of the 32 acres, the county planning commission had voted 6-2 to recommend approval of the zoning change, and the township zoning board had voted unanimously to reject the zoning request.
The request was filed by Liames LLC, the same firm that filed to rezone the acreage on which the Meta data center is being constructed, bordered on the south by Ohio 582, on the west by Ohio 25, and on the east by Mercer Road.
This new acreage is all north of Route 582, with eight parcels lining the east side of Route 25, previously sites to homes and a strip of motel rooms/apartments. The five other parcels sit along the west side of Mercer Road, and previously had homes on them.
On Tuesday, after the Meta attorney, township residents and other concerned citizens took their turns speaking, the Middleton Township Trustees weighed the request to change 13 parcels totaling 32 acres from residential and agricultural zoning to M-1 industrial zoning.
Petrea agreed with the township zoning board, and voted against the change. She said the change to M-1 zoning is unnecessary, since under the current zoning Meta is allowed to use the acreage for temporary construction purposes.
When asked after the meeting about the need for the zoning change, Ingram said the township was legally required to follow the land use plan, which calls for development. But Petrea said the county’s comprehensive plan is “a little gray” on the matter since it is out of date.
Ingram said that once construction on the data center is complete, the lots bordering Route 25 will become a buffer zone with trees. Moulton said the tree buffer plan has been approved by the zoning board.
Ingram was asked after the meeting why Meta couldn’t just plant the buffer zone, without requiring the zoning be changed – since the change to M-1 also allows such uses as salvage yards and trucking businesses. Ingram said the zoning change firmed up the buffer plans and any changes to them would require Meta to get approval from the township.
Rezoning the acreage would allow for relocating of construction materials, parking and access, Ingram said. And that will mean the construction can be completed sooner, which everyone would like, he added.
The neighbors and sympathizers
Beth Cole, who lives on Dowling Green, on the north edge of the data center project, voiced her distrust of Meta, which has violated its pledge of only having one entrance to the site on Ohio 582, and is operating a concrete plant without the proper zoning.
“If you want to work on harmony, work on that,” Cole said.
“I’m pretty sure Meta is going to continue to rape and pillage our land,” she said.
Patricia Fugee, who also lives on Dowling Road, said the change to M-1 will allow other undesirable uses of the acreage.
And Kathy Pereira de Almeida, of Bowling Green, questioned why a buffer zone isn’t required around the entire data center site of more than 900 acres.
John Zanfardino, of Bowling Green, noted that he has yet to hear any Middleton Township residents make positive comments about the project. He suggested the trustees listen to their residents, who are seeking harmony as well.
Chris Coultrip, of Perrysburg Township, said Meta has already proved to not be a good neighbor, with some nearby residential properties now having problems with their wells.
Leatra Harper, of Bowling Green, also voiced trust issues – especially after a gas-fired power plant was fast-tracked for the data center without public input.
“If you give an inch, they’ll take a mile,” she said to the trustees. “I don’t think you can trust them as far as you can throw them.”
Tim Hainen, who lives on Devil’s Hole Road, south of the project, told the township trustees they were setting a dangerous precedent by allowing the data center zoning to butt up next to existing residences. He worried that if Meta spreads south of Ohio 582, the township “is not going to have a leg to stand on,” if they give in now.
Trustee Fred Vetter told Hainen the M-1 zoning is already touching residential property. “The precedence has already been set,” he said.
Hainen told the trustees there is no reason to change the zoning. “If you change the zoning, it’s out of control,” he said.
What’s next?
Also on Tuesday evening, The Wood County Planning Commission heard a request to rezone another 39 acres adjacent to the Meta data center. A. Schaller Limited Partnership submitted an application to rezone the parcel from an A-1 Agricultural zoning classification to an M-1 Industrial zoning classification for construction parking.
This acreage sits to the north of the properties approved for rezoning by the township trustees Tuesday evening.
The county planning commission voted 6-2 in favor of recommending the township approve the request. Voting in favor were Ted Bowlus, Craig LaHote, Steve Arnold, John Musteric, Brian Swope and Jeffrey Schaller. Voting in opposition were John Schuerman and Matthew Tewers.
This request will next go to the township zoning board, and then the trustees.
During the planning commission meeting, Joe DeMare of Bowling Green, asked the commission to consider, “how will this benefit the people of Wood County?”
“This is an example of where you can dig your heels in and make it difficult for them. The people of Wood County would appreciate it,” DeMare said.
Cole also spoke at that meeting, describing herself as an “angry resident.”
“I think it’s pretty insane they need another 40 acres for construction parking,” she said, noting that Meta already rents out parking space at the former Calphalon plant.
“How much more do we need to take from Meta,” Cole said. “They’re a terrible neighbor and it’s just getting worse.”
