By 1812Blockhouse
A proposed data center project in Franklin Township drew pointed discussion during a recent Richland County commissioners meeting, as county officials responded to a resident’s concerns and said the plan lacks the local support it would need to proceed.
The exchange began when a resident who lives near the proposed site asked commissioners whether they could make any statement about the project, which she said had become a major concern among nearby residents. She noted that she lives about a quarter-mile from the area and has a special needs child, adding that anxiety in the neighborhood has been intense.
Commissioner Darrell Banks pointed to the City of Mansfield’s recent decision to stop pursuing the project. The proposal would have required annexation of land from Franklin Township into Mansfield, along with city involvement in utilities and development agreements. “I would hate to say it’s a dead issue, but I believe it’s a dead issue for right now,” Banks said.
County Role In Annexation
Commissioners explained that while Richland County would have a role in any annexation petition, the project would also require cooperation from the City of Mansfield. Officials said the city would have to be a willing partner for utilities, development agreements, and other project-related approvals.
Commissioner Tony Vero said the developer’s representatives may continue making statements about the project, but that does not mean the proposal has a viable local path. “Granted, the annexation would come through us, but the development agreement, they need city utilities, city partnership, city development agreement,” Vero said.
The commissioners’ comments made clear that they do not view the Franklin Township proposal as active in any practical sense.
Claims Of Prior Discussions Disputed
The resident also asked about statements suggesting the developer had been in discussions with both the county and city for about two years. Vero disputed that characterization. He said his first awareness of the developer came in February 2026 and that he met once with project representative Shawn Cutter at Relax, It’s Just Coffee.
According to Vero, he later sent an email asking for the expected number of full-time equivalent jobs from the proposed power plant, data center, and farm components of the project. He said that email was not answered. Commissioners also said they had not supported the project, responding to claims circulating online that county officials were in favor of it.
Job Numbers Questioned
A major point of concern was the project’s employment claims. Vero said the developer had at one point referenced 5,000 jobs, then later appeared to distinguish between construction jobs and permanent full-time jobs. The resident said her husband and others had asked questions at a public meeting and also had difficulty getting clear answers. Commissioners said the lack of firm answers contributed to their concerns about the project and its presentation to the public.
Township Officials Involved
The resident asked whether county or city officials would attend a future Franklin Township meeting if the developer returned. Commissioners said they were not aware of plans to attend, largely because they viewed the matter as already resolved from the county’s perspective. They also said they had been in regular communication with Franklin Township trustees and described the county and township as aligned on the issue.
What If The Project Moves Elsewhere?
Later in the discussion, a question was raised about whether the developer could attempt a similar annexation elsewhere in Richland County, possibly involving another municipality.
County officials said any future annexation petition would have to be reviewed under Ohio law and that the county could not issue a blanket answer without seeing the specific filing. The outcome would depend on the type of annexation, whether statutory requirements were met, and the position of the affected city and township. Commissioners also noted that, as with the Mansfield example, any such effort would still require municipal cooperation.
No Formal Vote, But A Clear Position
The commissioners did not take a formal vote on the data center proposal during this portion of the meeting. Still, their position was direct: the Franklin Township data center project does not have county support, Mansfield is no longer pursuing it, and county officials do not see a practical route for the proposal to move forward in its current form.
