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Is the city secretly approving a massive data center?
Share Is the city secretly approving a massive data center? on Facebook Share Is the city secretly approving a massive data center? on Twitter Share Is the city secretly approving a massive data center? on Linkedin Email Is the city secretly approving a massive data center? linkSetting the Record Straight About Data Centers in Twinsburg
Over the past several Council meetings, residents have voiced concerns about the possibility of large AI data centers coming to Twinsburg. We welcome public engagement; it is part of what makes our community strong.
However, some of the claims being circulated reflect selective interpretations and significant mischaracterizations of what has actually occurred. To ensure the information shared is accurate and complete, the City took time to review records and consult with the appropriate departments before responding. We believe our residents deserve a complete and factual explanation.
Let’s set the record straight.
Are Data Centers Allowed in Twinsburg?
No.
Twinsburg’s zoning code does not list large AI or “hyper-scale” data centers as a permitted use.
Last fall, a private property owner submitted a “similar use” application for an industrial parcel. Importantly:
- The owner did not have an active plan to construct a data center.
- The request was to allow the property to be marketed for that potential use.
- Under our laws, property owners are legally entitled to apply for similar use determinations.
If the City were to refuse to hear an application altogether, we would expose taxpayers to significant litigation risk. Following established process is not advocacy, it is responsible governance.
What Happened with That Application?
The process worked exactly as designed.
- The Planning Commission reviewed the application (they are advisory only).
- The Commission cannot approve similar-use applications, they only make recommendations to Council.
- City Council had questions and sent the matter back to Planning for additional clarification.
- Before any further action occurred, the applicant withdrew the request.
There is currently:
- No application
- No proposal
- No pending approval
- No data center coming to Twinsburg
Any narrative suggesting imminent development is simply not supported by the facts.
Comparisons to Ashburn, Virginia
Some commentary has compared Twinsburg to Ashburn, one of the largest concentrations of hyperscale data centers in the world.
That comparison is dramatically out of context.
- Data centers are not permitted in Twinsburg’s zoning code as a primary use.
- Our industrial land is largely built out.
- No member of City Administration or Council is advocating to change the zoning code to allow large AI data centers.
Using an extreme national example to suggest a local crisis is misleading and unnecessarily alarming.
What About the Verizon Facility on Highland Road?
The building at 2000 Highland Road, commonly referred to as the Verizon facility, has also been cited in recent meetings. Here are the facts:
Was it built “under cover of darkness”?
No.
- The 80,000 square foot addition was reviewed publicly through the required development process:
- The Planning Commission reviewed the site plan at two meetings in 2009.
- A Conditional Use Permit hearing was held.
- City Council received the Planning Commission’s recommendations.
- This was a documented, public process conducted in accordance with the City’s zoning and development procedures.
Was it illegal or outside the zoning code?
No.
- To understand why the expansion was permitted, it is important to clarify a basic zoning concept: primary (principal) use vs. ancillary (accessory) use.
- A primary use is the main function of a property — the reason the building exists. For example, a home in a residential district or a manufacturing plant in an industrial district. The primary use defines the site.
- An ancillary use is secondary. It supports the primary use and does not stand on its own. In simple terms, the primary use is the main engine; the ancillary use is a supporting component.
At the time of application:
86,800 square feet of office space already existed at Verizon’s regional telecommunications headquarters.
An 80,000 square foot addition was proposed.
Approximately 50,000 square feet of that addition was dedicated to data-related space.
After the addition, the total building size was approximately 166,600 square feet, meaning the data-related space represented roughly 30% of the total facility, leaving 70% non-data (office, telecom operations, support, mechanical, etc.)
By contrast, large hyperscale AI data centers that are often referenced nationally are facilities where nearly 100% of the building is dedicated to data operations, with no other primary use occurring on site outside of the data center.
In plain language:
The Verizon site was, and remains a regional telecommunications headquarters as its primary use. The data component supports Verizon’s network operations. It was not approved as a new, standalone hyperscale AI data center.
That distinction matters.
The facility was reviewed and classified as an expansion of an existing telecommunications operation, with supporting infrastructure necessary for that operation.
There are:
No zoning violations
No building code violations
No fire code violations
Does it use 243,000 gallons of water per day?
There is no publicly verified evidence supporting that claim — and it would be impossible for a private individual to know the specific daily water usage of a private commercial facility.
The water usage figures being cited appear to reference large hyperscale AI facilities in other states. Those comparisons do not reflect the operational profile of the telecommunications infrastructure facility on Highland Road.
What we can state with certainty:
The facility has been operating for more than 15 years.
There has been no documented strain on the City’s wastewater treatment plant attributable to this site.
Additionally, the expansion included modern infrastructure upgrades, including cooling chillers and cooling towers designed to improve efficiency and minimize water usage as part of the publicly reviewed site improvements.
Assertions that the facility is draining local water resources or overwhelming City infrastructure are not supported by operational history or data.
Does it only employ “a handful of people”?
No.
The City approved tax abatements based on 152 jobs at the facility, and current payroll reporting confirms that the facility continues to be a significant contributor to the City’s local tax revenues.
Additional facts about the Verizon Building:
LEED Gold environmental certification
Valued at $16,625,400 (Summit County Auditor)
Pays approximately $365,090 annually in property taxes
Approximately $260,900 annually supports Twinsburg City Schools
This is not an abandoned warehouse. It is a long-standing telecommunications and IT infrastructure facility that contributes to our tax base, schools, and local economy.
Is This an “Existential Crisis”?
No.
Large AI data centers raise legitimate questions nationally, including water use, electric demand, and noise. Those are real considerations in communities where such uses are proposed.
But in Twinsburg:
- There is no active proposal.
- There is no pending vote.
- There is no advocacy by City leadership.
- There is no zoning allowance.
The narrative of imminent crisis is not grounded in current reality.
Why Does the City Hear Similar Use Applications at All?
Because we are governed by law.
Our first priority is the well-being of residents. At the same time, we must treat property owners and businesses fairly under the Charter and zoning code.
Hearing an application is not endorsement.
Following process is not secrecy.
Public review is not a conspiracy.A Note on Public Discourse
Healthy debate is welcome in Twinsburg. We encourage residents to ask questions and stay informed.
However, exaggerations that suggest secret approvals, illegal construction, or imminent threats, when none exist, distract from the many positive initiatives underway in our community. At times, public issues can become amplified during election cycles. We remain focused not on politics, but on responsible governance and factual communication.
We are confident that when facts are fully presented, our residents can see the process for what it is: transparent, lawful, and measured.
Twinsburg continues to be a community built on thoughtful planning, strong businesses, excellent schools, and engaged residents.
We remain committed to keeping it that way.
We understand that residents may occasionally hear something that raises questions or even causes a moment of disbelief. In those situations, we encourage you to reach out to the City for clarification rather than relying solely on social media posts or public commentary, which are protected by the First Amendment but often reflect personal opinions or incomplete information. You do not need to file a formal public records request to ask a question. Residents are welcome to visit TogetherTwinsburg.com to review City responses or submit their own questions. You may also contact the Mayor’s Office directly at (330) 963-6207 or email communications@twinsburg.oh.us
Thank you for staying engaged and helping us keep Twinsburg informed and connected.
