Akron has approved new guardrails for future data center proposals.
Council unanimously passed a new process that, among other rules, requires data centers to be approved by both the city’s planning commission and city council.
“Our zoning code was written before facilities like modern data centers became a significant planning consideration,” Mayor Shammas Malik said in a June news release when the review process was first proposed. “This proposal creates a thoughtful, transparent process that allows us to evaluate each project on its merits, engage the public and ensure we’re protecting community interests while providing clarity and predictability for applicants.”…