Editor’s note: Issue 28, the Community Consent Amendment on Grove City’s Nov. 3 ballot, would change the city charter to require a public vote before certain large-scale developments, such as data centers, could move forward. It’s one of the most consequential decisions Grove City voters will make this year, and it deserves a thoughtful, issue-focused debate. Today, local attorney Jeffrey E. Buskirk makes the case against it.
We invite supporters, Protect Grove City and the amendment’s authors, to explain why they back it and where they believe the opposition has it wrong.
A Guest Column by Jeffrey E. Buskirk
Consider this my closing argument to the citizens of Grove City. The case is Issue 28, the Community Consent Amendment, and I make it with respect for the seriousness of this vote and for my neighbors who support it.
The goal behind Issue 28 is to keep data centers out of Grove City. Many residents don’t want them, and I respect that. I wouldn’t want one in my backyard either.
But keeping data centers out and passing this amendment are not the same thing. We have to be honest about what Issue 28 actually does. It would require a public vote on any development of 50 acres or more, any project designed to draw more than 20 megawatts of power, or any project using more than 500,000 gallons of water a day.
Those thresholds extend well past data centers. As written, the amendment affects our hospital, schools, churches, and parks. Over time, I believe it would shrink our commercial tax base, make Grove City less attractive to new businesses, and cost the city revenue. Surrounded by Columbus, we could be left with the traffic and none of the investment.
I also have concerns about how the amendment was developed. Its supporters have not said who drafted it, and a change this significant deserves thorough local legal review before it becomes part of our charter.
When the consequences land on Grove City residents, it won’t be enough to say, “That wasn’t the intent.” Intent doesn’t control the outcome. The charter text does. A charter amendment isn’t a statement of values. It’s a binding rule that will shape what gets built in Grove City, and how those decisions are made, for years to come.
I ask every voter to oppose Issue 28. If you oppose data centers, oppose them in a way that doesn’t cause lasting harm to our city. We can stop a data center without taking everything else down with it.
Jeffrey E. Buskirk is a Grove City attorney and resident.
The opinions expressed in this guest column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pennant or its editorial board.
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