Ballville Twp trustees reject zoning changes

BALLVILLE TWP. — Totaling over 100 community members, Ballville Township residents met Tuesday evening to express their displeasure with a potential zoning change in the township. But the township's trustees had already agreed with the community before the public spoke out. Speculation grew in Ballville Township over a proposed zoning change that would reclassify 307 acres of agricultural land on the area of U.S. 6 and Ohio 53 as industrial. Many community members believed a classification change meant a data center would come to their backyards. But prior to the meeting, township officials clarified a date center construction is not an option in the township because data centers are on a list of prohibited structures in the township. Stating a data center could not be built in the township regardless of land classifications was not enough to put the community at ease. Several cited a pending piece of state legislation that, as of Sept. 16, has not been made into a law. The bill, Ohio House Bill 116, "Permits digital asset mining businesses to operate in any area zoned for industrial use, provided the businesses meet the requirements for industrial use," according to its summary. The community members interpreted the pending law to mean the zoning code restricting data centers would be rendered obsolete if the bill passes. Other community members did not want the land classification to change regardless of the data center discussion. Prior to the public hearing, residents on social media spoke of the rich soil that would go to waste if the township land was used for manufacturing. Community wants to know Residents overfilled the Ballville Fire Community Hall for the public hearing with township trustees ahead of their public meeting where the officials voted on the classification change. Every seat in the room was taken, with more community members standing outside the building listening in on the discussion. Trustee chair, Mary Ann Reser, opened the hearing by explaining the process of changing a classification: • The zoning commission votes on the proposed change. • The commission rejected it, but trustees are then required to host a hearing on the issue. • After the hearing, trustees take a vote. "I understand that the majority of people, if not everybody in the audience, is opposed," Reser said before the room erupted with applause confirming her statement. Rather than everyone in the audience stating their opposition, the public hearing was used as a question-and-answer session on the topic of the classification changing. The community questioned Reser on topics like potential similar votes in the future, the value of keeping the land zoned for agriculture, what could happen at that property in the future, among other questions. After questions, the trustees adjourned the public hearing, opened the meeting and unanimously rejected the classification change. "To everybody who came tonight, thank you, sincerely thank you," Reser said. "This is what government is about. This really is. We need to hear from our residents."