Sunbury to Consider Moratorium on Data Centers After Resident Pushback

City leaders aim to pause new data center development to allow for further study and public input.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:37pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a futuristic data center server rack, its components illuminated by neon cyan and magenta lights, conveying the advanced technology powering the digital economy while also evoking concerns over the environmental impact of such facilities.As Sunbury weighs a moratorium on new data centers, a conceptual visualization of the complex digital infrastructure at the heart of the debate.West Jefferson Today

The city of Sunbury, Ohio, will consider implementing a moratorium on data center development, including a proposed $2 billion Amazon campus, after residents voiced concerns about the project's potential impact on the community. Mayor Joe St. John announced the plan during a recent State of the City presentation, stating the goal is to lower pressure in the community and allow city staff to conduct additional due diligence, hear from experts, and hold public forums before making a decision.

Why it matters

Sunbury's consideration of a moratorium reflects a growing trend in central Ohio, where several communities have enacted bans or temporary pauses on data center development in response to resident concerns over the strain on local resources, environmental impact, and changing community character. This case highlights the tensions between tech industry expansion and preserving the identity of smaller, more rural towns.

The details

The proposed Sunbury data center is part of Amazon's $7.8 billion expansion of its data center footprint in central Ohio. The tech giant plans to build a $2 billion campus on 241 acres within the Sunbury Business and Technology Park. Residents have raised concerns about the project's energy use, water consumption, noise, and threat to local wildlife and rural character. The moratorium would pause rezoning and negotiations with Amazon while the city conducts further study.

  • On March 25, Sunbury Mayor Joe St. John announced the city will consider a moratorium on data center development.
  • The Sunbury Planning and Zoning Commission held a meeting on March 23 where residents voiced opposition to the Amazon project.

The players

Joe St. John

The mayor of Sunbury, Ohio, who announced the city will consider a moratorium on data center development.

Amazon

The tech giant that plans to build a $2 billion data center campus on 241 acres in Sunbury, which has faced pushback from residents.

Lee Ann Lander

A Berkshire Township resident who can see the proposed Amazon site from her home and believes the project does not fit the rural character of the community.

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What they’re saying

“We're going to take time to get this right. That does not mean there will be no data centers, or no development. It means our team is going to be afforded the time to study this objectively.”

— Joe St. John, Mayor of Sunbury

“Smart growth means aligning development with character and infrastructure of the community. Many of us feel like that hasn't happened in this case.”

— Lee Ann Lander, Berkshire Township resident

What’s next

The Sunbury City Council will consider introducing the moratorium on data center development, though the length of the proposed pause has not been specified.

The takeaway

Sunbury's consideration of a moratorium on data centers reflects growing tensions in central Ohio between tech industry expansion and preserving the character of smaller, more rural communities. This case highlights the need for cities to carefully balance economic development with the concerns of residents over the environmental and community impacts of large-scale data center projects.