GIRARD — The city is the latest community to place a moratorium on issuing permits for data centers to allow for more time for researching and reviewing them.

After discussion and three readings, city council on Monday gave final reading to putting a 12-month moratorium in place.

Councilwoman Lily Martuccio, D-at Large, said the moratorium will allow for council and the administration to have more time to study the impact data centers will have on the community. Martuccio said once the moratorium is in place, it will allow officials to develop zoning guidelines to ensure public safety for any proposed projects related to data centers.

Martuccio has characterized the legislation as a “stand of solidarity” with all the other communities surrounding Girard that have implemented similar policies.

Residents and officials across the Mahoning Valley have raised serious concerns about the massive utility demands, potential noise and heavy electric grid strains that these large-scale facilities bring to a community.

While the moratorium is in place, officials said they will evaluate its general zoning rules and see what needs to be changed related to data centers so that the community is protected.

She said issues of loud humming noises coming from data centers as well as use of electricity and water are some of the issues that need further review before any permit can be issued.

Officials from McDonald, Lordstown and Hubbard have been to New Albany, where many data centers are located and have reported on what they have seen.

McDonald Mayor Ray Lewis and Lordstown Mayor Jackie Woodward have told their councils they did not find the data centers that loud nor a lot of light coming from.

Because of the emergency clause on the moratorium the legislation goes into effect immediately,

OTHER MORATORIUM

Data centers are not the only issue involving moratoriums as council gave final reading to extend a moratorium on small box discount stores in the city.

Officials said there are already several dollar stores with concerns that there is no grocery store within the city as past stores have closed.

Councilman Wes Steiner, D-at Large, said the legislation will place a two-year extension of the current moratorium on having any more dollar stores located in the city.

Steiner said while discount stores are fine for communities, there needs to be a limit on how many.

Officials have said while the dollar stores and small box discount stores do offer items that residents need, there is a need for larger grocery stores such as Giant Eagle, Sparkle Market and IGA.

NEIGHBORHOOD BLIGHT

Resident Joe Melfi of Morris Avenue said there is an abandoned property on his street that has been an eyesore and a safety hazard.

He said the property also has affected the value of other properties in the neighborhood.

Melfi said the property has been vacant since 2018.

“We have asked for eight years to have the blight addressed. The administration did help by taking action and showing that blight will not be tolerated,” Melfi said.

He said while the house is now boarded up, it is not the end as it needs to be demolished.

“As we all know, a boarded up house is not the finish line. No one in Girard wants to see a building boarded up with plywood sitting long term in limbo. It still remains blight,” Melfi said.

He said the city administration stepping in it was a massive victory for the neighborhood.

Resident Charlie Ross of Girard Avenue said his neighborhood also has been dealing with an abandoned property and asked city officials to help the neighborhood like they did for Melfi and other residents of Morris Avenue.

Ross, a 47-year resident of the city, said he and his wife are tired of looking at “garbage” in their neighborhood, noting the roof of the house is falling in. Safety Service Director Glenn Holmes said he would be willing to meet with Ross about the property and what can be done.