COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two companies are asking the Ohio Supreme Court to help them challenge what they say is the Village of Lordstown’s refusal to review their plans for a new data center.

Bristolville 25 Developer LLC and BHGH Properties, LLC are seeking an immediate court order to force the village to review their project, requesting that the court schedule an oral argument to present their case in person to the justices.

The conflict stems from an application the developers filed Oct. 20. The companies argue that at that time, data centers were permitted use under Lordstown’s zoning laws.

However, Bristolville and BHGH say the Village’s Planning & Zoning Administrator refused to process the submission, citing a proposal for a new law that would ban the facilities.

Although the Lordstown Village Council passed the ban on Nov. 3, 2025, it is not scheduled to take effect until Dec. 3, 2025.

 

The developers argue that their right to proceed with the project became established the moment they filed their application under the existing legal rules. They claim the Village is improperly exercising discretion and attempting to retroactively apply a law that is not yet in force.

The petition asks the Ohio Supreme Court to compel the Village to review the data center plans based on the zoning regulations that were in effect on the date of their original filing.

The village solicitor, Matthew Ries, told 21 News the reason the application hasn’t been reviewed is because  it’s “barebones” and engineers are missing information. 

“We have no idea what their storm water management plans are, we have no idea what their utility information is. One of their buildings is located on top of one of our water lines which can’t happen,” Ries said. “...They’ve located different structures where there are oil and gas wells. There’s extensive waterlands on the property that exist that haven't been addressed.”

The attorneys for the developer believe they don't need to provide that information because they're in step one of the process and that's only required for step two. 

“From where we sit it looks like the village is just changing it’s zoning permitting process on the fly,” Cary Snyder, the attorney for Bristolville from Taft Law said.

The village solicitor and mayor Jackie Woodward both told 21 News they will review the plans if that additional information comes in.

No construction on the site can happen until it’s looked at and a permit is issued.

According to the Ohio Secretary of State, BHGH as an Ohio company with registered agent Gerald Henn at 1001 Country Way, Warren, which owns the site of the proposed data center at the northwest corner of State Route 45 and Reuther Drive SW.

The legal action stems from a Nov. 4 vote by the Lordstown Village Council, which passed the ban on data centers unanimously, six to zero, following a final reading of the new legislation. The vote came after more than 100 residents and community members attended the meeting to share concerns.

Lordstown officials, however, have indicated they are ready to defend their decision. The village solicitor noted at the time that the state’s laws do not clearly define whether a village can ban an entire industry, calling the situation a “gray area.”

Snyder said he still believes the ban does not apply to the Bristolville center because they submitted their application before the ban was put into effect. 

The council passed the ban in response to community concerns about the potential impact of a data center.

Residents voiced worries about the environmental effect, especially the possibility of increased utility bills for water and electricity. Others cited studies suggesting high noise levels that could be a health risk and expressed frustration over the number of tax breaks often given to large developments.

Court records show that the village and its officials were issued a summons on Thursday. The village solicitor said they will not be responding to the lawsuit and will let the matter proceed to the courts. Developers have requested to meet with the village privately sometime next week.