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From Chillicothe City Council weighs data hall proposal from Alignment Engine

How will the data hall proposal affect Chillicothe's city council?

City Council must address data hall proposal amid zoning uncertainty The city council must now formally address the data hall proposal from Alignment Engine Inc., which is currently under a moratorium designed to slow the process and listen to the community. The city must apply its existing industrial zone rules, such as setback and sound regulations, while balancing the need for responsible zoning with supporting local job development. The council is scheduled to meet on September 28th to discuss the issue.

Reported by 1 independent outlet Written Sep 28
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How it reaches city council

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The facts so far

As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.

  • City officials are weighing a data hall proposal for the Alignment Engine in Chillicothe.iheart.com
  • The city created a moratorium to slow down the process and listen to the community.iheart.com
  • Chillicothe Council is scheduled to meet on Monday, September 28th.iheart.com
  • City rules still cover industrial zones, including setback and sound.iheart.com

Why it matters

The data center proposal represents a major policy challenge for Chillicothe, forcing the city council to navigate the tension between strict regulatory oversight and economic development. The city must balance its absolute obligation to apply zoning rules with its desire to support jobs and business development, especially given the excitement around the paper mill redevelopment.

The controversy is amplified by the fact that the city previously created a moratorium to slow the process and listen to the community. The city must determine if the proposal is a solid development opportunity or merely a speculative promise, especially as the state was incentivizing data centers until May 2026.

What we don't know yet

  • What specific zoning rules will the city council apply to the Alignment Engine proposal?
  • Will the city council lift the moratorium to allow for formal review of the proposal?

What would change this answer

The city council votes to lift the moratorium and proceed with a formal application review.The council will be forced to make a concrete decision on the proposal, accelerating the timeline for the Alignment Engine.
The city council decides to update the Universal Development Code (UDC) to specifically address data centers.The council will establish new, permanent regulatory standards, fundamentally changing how future data center projects are handled in Chillicothe.

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  • About Hyperscale Data Center

    If the Alignment Engine proposal is a hyperscale facility, how would that change the city's ability to apply existing industrial zone rules?

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The full eventChillicothe City Council weighs data hall proposal from Alignment Engine Everything aboutcity council

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