RICHFIELD Twp., Ohio (WTVG) – Backlash continues over a proposed zoning change that could set the stage for a data center in rural Richfield Township.
Some residents are concerned about their way of life and their family farms.
“When people see this land, they’re like, ‘Oh, we can develop it and we can make money for the county, but what are you doing for the people that this is everything? This is everything that we’ve ever loved, experienced, this is all our memories. Like, what do you do with that? How can you put a price on that?” said Ashley Garlick, part of the Loeffler family.
Garlick’s family farm stands along the southern border of Central Avenue near the Fulton-Lucas County line. If a proposed zoning ordinance gets approved, it could allow the legacy farmland to be developed.
“We have a beautiful community here. Lot of churches, lot of church people go, and we just want to keep it that way,” said Lillian Loeffler.
Concerns about the proposal prompted residents to pack the Richfield Township Trustee meeting the night of Monday, June 2, 2025.
“There is not a data center, there is not a specific company that is ready to move in right now. This is a potential option brought to us by essentially a realtor company that, ‘Hey, you have some potential ground that could house a data center.’ Is it something that we want to see? Obviously, you saw here. I don’t want to upset our township residents, right? But it’s something I think we do our due diligence, and we figure out what potential benefits, what potential downfalls there are, and weigh the pros and the cons,” said Any Lumbrezer, Richfield Twp. Trustee.
A special meeting is set for the Richfield Twp. Fire Hall Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 7 p.m.
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This article was published by WTVG on 2025-06-02 23:35:00
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