HEBRON − The village of Hebron and Microsoft have finalized an agreement for the technology giant to build up to six data center buildings on more than 200 acres west of Ohio 79, between North High Street and Canyon Road.
The development, which will employ at least 30 people per building, will be constructed in phases of one or two buildings at a time, Mayor Valerie Mockus said. Each building is estimated to have an investment of $500 million, meaning if the project is fully built the village could see an investment of $3 billion, according to Mockus and Brittany Misner, the village economic and community development director.
The first data centers likely won’t begin operating until 2026 or 2027, the mayor said.
“I think they’re a great fit for Hebron,” Mockus said. “They are going to be low impact. We won’t have hundreds of employees. There won’t be heavy truck traffic the residents near the site were very worried about.”
The deal comes as the central Ohio region has seen a boom in data center development, with Google, Amazon and Facebook also building the facilities in the area.
Hebron Village Council approved the Microsoft agreement on Wednesday night, when it also approved other legislation related to the proposed development. Council accepted an annexation of 131 acres and rezoned properties at 323 and 129 N. High St. to manufacturing. The property at 323 N. High St. had been zoned for agriculture, while the land at 129 N. High St. was pewviously zoned for residential and manufacturing.
Misner posted on Facebook after the meeting, “Tonight was a big night! This is a fantastic opportunity for our village and a partnership that will bring investment, revenue, and opportunity to our municipality and residents. The future is bright!”
More: Google to announce new central Ohio investment June 18
About half of the land was annexed from Union Township into Hebron, while the rest was already in the village.
The agreement commits Microsoft to paying for road improvements on High Street, Enterprise Drive and Canyon Road, which will be extended from the end at Refugee Road to U.S. 40, a distance of about one-half mile.
The village will reserve peak water flow of 252 gallons per minute per building for up to 6 buildings, for a total peak day water demand of 630,000 gallons per day when the development is completed. Hebron will also reserve 210,000 gallons per day to discharge, treat and transport at peak wastewater flow.
“They asked for a commitment for a lot of water in case they need it,” Mockus said. “They asked for about 30% of our capacity. That’s in an emergency and on the hottest day.”
Mockus said her initial concerns about the company’s water demand were alleviated when she realized it was only for peak demands and a worst-case scenario. The company will create at least two large retention ponds.
Hebron and Heath benefit from an underground aquifer many other communities do not have, she said.
The village and company will negotiate and identify the funding the company will pay the village for water and wastewater services.
The village is in the process of acquiring right-of-way for road improvements. Microsoft will pay the costs for right-of-way acquisition.
The development will have a western access to the property from Canyon Road and an eastern access from North High Street. A westbound right turn lane and an eastbound left turn lane will be added to U.S 40 at the new Refugee Road intersection.
Mockus said the development will have minimal noise and air quality impact, and won’t disrput the landscape. She said Microsoft will invest in considerable screening of the development.
“It sure makes life easier when you have an organization working to improve the lives of residents,” Mockus said of the company.
The agreement is contingent on Microsoft purchasing the land from the two property owners by Jan. 1, 2026. Microsoft has invested heavily in Licking County, also buying land in Heath, New Albany and Pataskala to build data centers.
The agreement does not include a tax abatement, but that will likely be negotiated in the future, Mockus said.
Microsoft did not immediately respond Friday for a comment.
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Twitter: @kmallett1958
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Hebron approves Microsoft plan for data center development
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