A zoning permit is required before a building or land use may be established, changed, constructed, enlarged, or structurally altered, creating an additional approval requirement for a data center.

In the Agricultural-Residential District, uses not listed as permitted or conditional are prohibited. Data centers are not expressly listed among the district’s permitted or conditional uses.

In the General Business District, uses not specifically listed as permitted or conditional are prohibited. Data centers are not expressly listed among those uses.

In the Light Manufacturing District, uses not otherwise prohibited by law, other than residential uses, are conditional uses, so a data center in that district would require conditional-use approval rather than being permitted as of right.

Any data center relying on solar panels for power would have to keep the panels outside required setbacks, limit freestanding panels to 10 feet in height, and avoid audible noise or glare affecting adjoining properties.

Wayne Township's Light Manufacturing District allows as conditional uses all uses that are not otherwise prohibited by law, except residential uses. This creates a broad zoning pathway for a data center or related nonresidential facility, subject to the district's conditions and approval process. The district limits impacts such as noise, smoke, odors, dust, and vibration to the Light Manufacturing District. (https://co.knox.oh.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wayne-Township-Zoning-Resolution-2019-05-11-EFFECTIVE-1.pdf#:~:text=All%20uses%20not%20otherwise%20prohibited%20by%20law)

The Light Manufacturing District expressly permits warehousing and storage, including indoor and outdoor storage of goods and materials, warehousing, pole yards, building-material storage, and trucking storage. It also permits manufacturing or processing of electronic components, motors, and generators. These provisions can accommodate certain data-center support, equipment, or power-related activities when the proposed use fits the listed categories. (https://co.knox.oh.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wayne-Township-Zoning-Resolution-2019-05-11-EFFECTIVE-1.pdf#:~:text=Warehousing%20and%20storage)

The zoning resolution exempts essential services and public utilities or railroads from the normal zoning-resolution requirements, although essential services remain subject to other applicable laws. This can ease zoning treatment for utility infrastructure serving a data center if that infrastructure qualifies as an essential service or public utility. (https://co.knox.oh.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wayne-Township-Zoning-Resolution-2019-05-11-EFFECTIVE-1.pdf#:~:text=Essential%20services%20shall%20be%20permitted)

The resolution permits solar panels in any zoning district as a permitted use, subject to being outside required setbacks, a ten-foot maximum height for freestanding panels, and limits on audible noise and glare. This provides an expressly authorized option for on-site solar generation, subject to those limits. (https://co.knox.oh.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wayne-Township-Zoning-Resolution-2019-05-11-EFFECTIVE-1.pdf#:~:text=All%20solar%20panels%20must%20be%20located)

Small wind projects under 5 megawatts are treated as permitted uses, and small agricultural wind projects under 5 megawatts are exempt from the zoning regulations. Nonagricultural small wind projects remain subject to requirements including height, setbacks, a clear-fall zone, site information, maintenance, and dismantling plans. This can provide a zoning route for qualifying on-site wind generation. (https://co.knox.oh.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wayne-Township-Zoning-Resolution-2019-05-11-EFFECTIVE-1.pdf#:~:text=Any%20proposed%20construction%2C%20erection%2C%20or%20siting)