On Monday night, the Cincinnati Planning Commission opened its doors at City Hall for an informational session that put the public at the center of a citywide data center zoning effort. City planners presented findings from a study that began in February, when an Interim Development Control Overlay District was created to give the municipality a chance to examine how the rapid expansion of server farms might affect neighborhoods, utilities and the environment.
Although no specific proposal has been filed, officials emphasized that the timing is intentional. “This zoning study is not in response to any specific data center proposal” said city planner Sophia Ferris Rowe during the presentation. The aim, she explained, is to be ready should a large developer approach the city with a hyperscale project.
Temporary safeguards and the path to permanent rules
When the overlay was first adopted in February, any new construction or expansion of a data center within the city limits would have to clear a review by the Planning Commission before a building permit could be issued. In April, the Cincinnati City Council extended these temporary controls, granting the Department of City Planning and Engagement additional time to draft lasting regulations. Prior to the overlay, data center projects could proceed as long as they complied with the existing zoning map for the parcel.
City officials are now weighing three possible approaches for a permanent code amendment: granting a right-of-use in certain districts, treating data centers as conditional uses that demand extra scrutiny, or handling each project through a site-specific planned development. The debate includes potential buffers between facilities and schools, day cares, or residences, limits on generator testing, noise assessments, equipment screening, height restrictions, lighting controls and de-commissioning requirements.
What Cincinnati already hosts
According to the data presented, there are eight data centers operating within the city, most of them clustered in downtown Cincinnati and the Queensgate industrial area. These existing sites are modest compared with the “hyperscale” centers that are sprouting in more rural parts of Ohio and the nation. The city’s planners noted that most of the current facilities consume less than 5 megawatts of power, whereas a hyperscale operation can exceed 100 megawatts.
Rob McCracken of the Office of Environment and Sustainability illustrated the electricity impact, noting that a continuously running 5-megawatt center would draw roughly 43.8 gigawatt-hours per year—an amount comparable to the annual usage of a small community. He warned that rising demand could push utility costs higher for all ratepayers, and that regulators will need mechanisms to shift those expenses to the heavy users rather than ordinary customers.
Water, wastewater and environmental considerations
Water usage is another critical piece of the puzzle. Data centers often rely on water-cooled systems, and a large facility could place a significant load on the municipal supply. Principal engineer Ben Biemple of Greater Cincinnati Water Works explained that the utility treats about 120 million gallons of water each day and can handle up to 280 million gallons daily if needed. Any new center would undergo the same water-review process as other major developments, providing projected usage data for hydraulic modeling. If the existing infrastructure proved insufficient, the developer would be required to fund upgrades.
The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati would conduct a parallel assessment of the wastewater system, using records, mapping and modeling to gauge capacity. Scott Vesler of the district suggested that recycled water could be an option for cooling needs, reducing pressure on potable supplies and potentially guiding site selection closer to treatment plants.
Community voices and lingering doubts
Local resident Thayer Wilson voiced support for proactive planning, saying, “I think it’s great. I don’t want for our city to be caught, you know, unaware. Now there’s a huge request coming from somewhere, and we don’t have an answer for it.” However, Wilson also expressed skepticism that early public input would survive the final regulatory process, noting, “My fear is that what the community is saying ahead of time still won’t necessarily be what we see in those proposals or in that zoning code.”
Other attendees, such as OTR resident Kaylee Baker, echoed concerns about the environmental and neighborhood impact of larger installations, urging the city to enforce any eventual rules rigorously. The temporary overlay remains in place as a safety net, and planners indicated that further extensions could be pursued if permanent legislation is not adopted before the current deadline.
The city hopes that this groundwork will produce a zoning framework that balances economic opportunity with the well-being of its residents and the resilience of its utility systems.
