The Urbana City Council met in regular session Tuesday evening, advancing legislation related to data center zoning regulations and cybersecurity requirements while approving several grant applications for the city’s municipal airport.
Council completed first readings of two ordinances, including legislation that would reverse zoning code changes approved last year that opened the door for potential data center development in portions of the city zoned for light industrial use.
Data Center Zoning Repeal Receives First Reading
Council heard the first reading of Ordinance 4634-26, which would adopt a recommendation from the Urbana Planning Commission to amend Chapter 1126 of the city’s zoning code and return it to the version that existed before the passage of Ordinance 4621-25.
The proposal follows recent public discussion surrounding the possibility of large-scale data center development near the intersection of U.S. Route 68 and Ohio Route 55.
The Planning Commission unanimously voted on May 19 to recommend removing zoning language that added uses related to computer servers, web hosting, and data processing facilities. Those changes expanded permitted uses within light industrial zoning districts and could have allowed future data center projects.
A member of council previously introduced legislation seeking to restore the zoning code’s previous language before the amendments were adopted.
Following Tuesday’s first reading, council members scheduled a special meeting for Monday, June 9, to conduct the required public hearing and second reading of the ordinance. The legislation will still require a third reading before a final vote can be taken.
Cybersecurity Program Introduced
Council also completed a first reading of legislation adopting a formal cybersecurity program for the City of Urbana in compliance with Ohio Revised Code Section 9.64.
The ordinance establishes the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework as the city’s foundational cybersecurity standard and creates a comprehensive cybersecurity program that includes an information security policy and an incident response and contingency plan.
According to the ordinance, the program is designed to protect public data and technology resources, assess and mitigate cybersecurity risks, detect and respond to threats, restore affected systems, and provide ongoing protection against attacks such as ransomware and phishing attempts.
The legislation also requires annual cybersecurity training for city employees and establishes oversight responsibilities for a designated Cybersecurity Responsible Person working alongside the city’s finance and law directors.
Records and documents related to the cybersecurity program would be exempt from public records disclosure as permitted under state law.
The ordinance requires three readings before final approval.
Airport Grant Applications Approved
Council unanimously approved three emergency resolutions authorizing the city’s administration to apply for funding through the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Office of Aviation for State Fiscal Year 2027 airport improvement programs.
The resolutions authorize applications for multiple grant opportunities available to general aviation airports through the Ohio Airport Improvement Program, including funding opportunities through the Infrastructure & Capacity Enhancement (ICE) program.
City officials said the applications will allow Urbana to pursue state funding for future airport infrastructure and improvement projects. Approval of the resolutions does not commit the city to specific projects but allows the administration to seek available grant funding through ODOT’s aviation programs.
Because the measures were approved as emergency resolutions, each required only a single reading and took effect immediately.
Council is expected to revisit both the zoning and cybersecurity ordinances during upcoming meetings as they continue through the legislative process.
