1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am an Etna Township resident, and I am writing to you today because I am deeply concerned about an ongoing, aggressive push to replace our local farmland with a massive data center development. Earlier this year, we saw two separate attempts to rezone this land. In April 2026, an application was filed to rezone 473 acres between I-70, the Violet Township line, Mink Street, and Tollgate Road, with Harvey Farms as the primary owner. After that was withdrawn, a second application appeared in June for 374 acres of Harvey family land. Because there are roughly 1,400 homes within just a mile of this site—including several large neighborhoods bordering it directly—our community came out in strong opposition. Thankfully, that second application was also withdrawn for the time being. However, we know this issue is far from dead. On October 13, a trustee-appointed Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is set to propose a change to Etna's Comprehensive Plan. Their proposal would designate this land, plus roughly 1,000 additional acres, as "Planned Office." This designation carries loose zoning standards that keep the door wide open for the exact data center development our community already rejected. What is especially frustrating is that this proposal completely ignores both community feedback and the recommendations made by the consulting firm the township itself hired. It is also hard to overlook a glaring conflict of interest: landowner Fred Harvey, along with several of his associates, served as prominent members of the very CAC making this recommendation. Weak zoning regulations and inadequate master planning have left Etna Township highly vulnerable to massive developments that are completely inappropriate for residential areas. While we will continue to press our local officials to do the right thing, we desperately need your help. I am asking you to look into this situation and bring state-level attention to the zoning practices threatening our community. Thank you for your time, your service, and for standing with the residents of Etna Township.