Dublin rezoned 370 acres for research and industry, and took data centers off the table

Record On July 1, Dublin City Council rezoned about 370 acres in its West Innovation District, nine parcels near Cosgray and Rings roads, into the ID-6, ID-2 and ID-3 districts. The vote was 5-2, with Christina Alutto and Wendy Johnson opposed. ^[1]

Record Before that vote, council adopted zoning code changes that remove data centers as permitted or conditional uses in the district, create an ID-6 Research Transition District and add a screening and setback design manual. That passed 6-1, with Johnson opposed. ^[1]

Record The rezoning, Ordinance 06-25, had been tabled. On May 26 council voted 6-1 to take it off the table and substitute a revised version. ^[2]

Record The district plan came first. In April council adopted the West Innovation District Integrated Implementation Strategy, 6-1, and a vision framework for a regional athletic and recreation campus, unanimously. ^[3]

What the dissenters said

Record Johnson said heavy industrial uses do not belong next to residential areas and objected to making advanced manufacturing a permitted use without measurable protections. Alutto said her difficulty was more with the process than the zoning designations, and questioned whether communications had been clear to everyone involved. ^[1]

Record After the vote, council unanimously approved Johnson's motion asking the city manager to start a review of the ID-2 and ID-3 codes. On Aug. 10 council told staff to proceed with near-term and longer-term changes. ^[1][4]

Data centers on Ohio ballots

Record Dublin's change came by council vote. Elsewhere, Ballotpedia counts 21 local data center measures in 18 Ohio jurisdictions this year, including a vote-first rule in Grove City, Newsweek reported. ^[5]

Open question When the ID-2 and ID-3 changes will come back to council has not been scheduled in the records we read.