CORTLAND — The city is the latest community to address data centers as council on Monday gave emergency passage to placing a one-year moratorium on them.

Council President John Picuri said having the moratorium in place for up to a year will stop any zoning permits or any applications for data centers.

“This will give our planning and zoning department time to review our zoning regulations since data centers were not thought of when the zoning regulations were put in place,” Picuri said.

He said officials want the city to do its due diligence in being prepared for any data center requests.

While he said he understands there is a place for data centers, many communities need to address electric and water usage when it comes to such centers. Picuri said he is not speaking for or against data centers, but just wants to make sure there are regulations and guidelines in place to address them.

He said the legislation, which he sponsored, was passed by council as an emergency “to put the brakes on a data center potentially coming to the city.”

“Our planning and zoning code did not consider data centers so we need the zoning board to take a hard look at this,” Picuri said. “It was passed as an emergency so no one could come in tomorrow morning and get an application for a data center. We want something on the books as soon as possible.”

Law Director Patrick Wison said with the moratorium in place, no data center could come into the community and apply for a permit.

“This moratorium gives council and the zoning board breathing room for a year to review them,” Wilson said.

Resident Rita Dodd said she and other residents are concerned about a data center being in the community.

“We do not want them here,” she said.

Mayor Jim Bradley said there have been no permit or application requests by a company for a data center in Cortland.

SCHOOL BULDING

Bradley said the former Cortland Elementary School off Pearl Street is having asbestos abatement work done and the project is making progress.

Officials have said once that work is done, there will be plans for demolition of the building.

The school has been closed for many years and is no longer part of the Lakeview Local School District.

The planned outdoor event space off West Main Street was put out for bids and Site Prep Services LLC had the lowest and best bid. Council gave second reading Monday to enter into a contract with the company with Bradley noting once final reading is approved at the next meeting, a timeline and schedule for the project will be provided.

Officials said the space will provide a location for different concerts, food truck nights and community events.

In other business, council approved the city entering into a partnership agreement with the cities of Girard, Hubbard and Niles for the 2026 Community Housing Impact and Preservation program through the Ohio Department of Development Community Services Division.

Bradley said the public can take advantage of the grant-based program and seek available state and federal funds for housing rehabilitation and improvements. The program is based on income levels of applicants.

Bradley said residents are able to apply for the funds and the city should receive its annual $250,000 allocation.