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WARREN -- City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data centers Wednesday during the first meeting after returning to council chambers after the August break.
It places a moratorium on data center projects larger than 1,000-square-feet and directs Mayor Doug Franklin to establish a Data Center Review Committee.
The legislation states that the existing zoning and development regulations in the city "were not specifically designed to address the unique characteristics and infrastructure demands of large-scale data centers."
It adds that several other Trumbull County communities have recently enacted temporary moratoriums to provide officials time to study data centers and determine appropriate regulations.
The legislation does not stop the continued operation or ordinary maintenance of a lawfully existing data center or apply to repairs that do not expand an existing data center.
The committee will need to present its written recommendations to Warren City Council no later than nine months after the ordinance takes effect. The recommendations will address zoning and land use compatibility; electric and water consumption and capacity; wastewater and stormwater impacts, noise, lighting and environmental considerations; traffic and emergency services; construction and site development standards; utility cost allocation and rate impacts; economic and employment benefits and many other issues.
During council's caucus session before the 5 p.m. regular meeting, Councilman Greg Greathouse, D-3rd Ward, said when the nine months is over, city council can then set "committee meetings to get public input from the citizens to get their feedback and their thoughts on data centers."
Greathouse said if the Data Center Review Committee works faster than nine months, the process can be shortened.
"Once those recommendations are adopted into some formal policy by the city administration, we can lift that moratorium," Greathouse said.
Franklin called data centers. "A very hot, important issue for communities throughout the state of Ohio, not only ours. I look forward to the work," he said.
He noted that a section of the legislation requires the moratorium to expire in one year unless the legislation is "extended, repealed or replaced" by later legislation.
Franklin said the goal is to "make smart choices that protect our environment, our utilities, and citizens -- with the citizens being the most important of the three. He said he is recommending that Paul Makosky, the city's director of engineering, building and planning, be appointed to the Data Center Review Committee, as well as Franco Lucarelli, the city's utilities department head; and John May, deputy Warren health commissioner.
Franklin noted that he has a subject matter expert he wants to bring into the discussion, adding that Warren does not have the "footprint for one of the higher scale data centers that are causing so much havoc, but we can be smart and very strategic in how we approach this."
LIQUOR PERMIT DISCUSSION
City Council also approved legislation objecting to the issuance of liquor permits for the 714 Lounge & Grille at 2461 Youngstown Road and requesting a hearing on "the advisability" of renewing the permit. It also approved a resolution objecting to the renewal of the liquor permit for Alex Cafe, doing business as Rock Bottom Cafe, 1680 North Park Ave., and requesting a hearing on "the advisability" of renewing that permit.
Councilman Michael Shrodek said a lot of incidents took place at the 714 Lounge in the spring, like an episode from midnight to 6 a.m. when someone saw 18 cars "coming and going in its parking lot, leaving trash, going to the bathroom in his parking lot."
He said there were "a few altercations, fighting." He said a neighboring business erected a $7,000 fence "to keep everyone off of his property." The business has never had a liquor license, he said.
Council member Tina Miliner spoke about the issues at the Rock Bottom Cafe, saying there has been an "uptick in calls for police" and shots fired in the parking lot since the current owner bought it. There have been at least 15 complaints from residents, she said.
Miliner said she hopes there can be "mediation" with the owner. She tried to contact the owner but did not get any response, she said.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council also approved four ordinances authorizing Franklin and Service and Safety Director Eddie Colbert to execute an agreement for a program of property tax abatement for four new homes built in a Community Reinvestment Area in the city. The CRA district was established about a decade ago. All four homes were purchased and are occupied, officials said. The abatement is for 15 years.
During the public comment period, Tom Connelly, regional vice president of AFSCME Ohio Council 8 union, invited the public to attend a meeting Sept. 26 at the IUB CWA Local 717 union hall on Sferra Drive in Warren to address healthcare.
He said there is a "serious problem" with the former Trumbull Regional Medical Center closing, saying "We are rapidly turning into a healthcare desert." He hopes that a task force can be formed with local and state officials to address the issue.
Council gave first reading to legislation that would partially ban parking on city streets between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., though it would not apply to the Central Business District within designated parking spots. The legislation includes a section that would eliminate an allowance of 30-minute parking on city streets between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. except in the Central Business District. The city's Traffic Commission held a public meeting on the idea July 16.
Council also approved legislation authorizing Franklin and Colbert to solicit proposals and enter into a contract for management and operation of Packard Music Hall.
Council approved the purchase of a Vachunter hydro excavator vac truck for use in the water department to make excavating around fiber optic cable lines more effective. The cost of the truck is $350,000.