Trending
EAST PALESTINE -- A public hearing for the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) between East Palestine and Unity Township was well attended this week, with village officials fielding questions about what exactly a JEDD would mean for residents.
The primary concern voiced among residents who turned out for the meeting involved the proposed sanitary sewer line along Howell Avenue, which is part of the broader utility expansion toward state Route 14.
"The utility expansion and proposed Joint Economic Development District are related initiatives, but neither is dependent on the other proceeding," East Palestine Village Manager Antonio Diaz-Guy said after the meeting.
Diaz-Guy said that residents representing approximately 18 households along Howell Avenue raised understandable questions about whether they would be required to connect to municipal sewer service and what private connection costs they might face.
"Those are reasonable concerns. We are working through the engineering and funding options to identify opportunities to reduce or eliminate those costs wherever possible," he said.
Furthermore, he explained that the JEDD contract states that the Village nor the Township will compel connection.
"Until the project reaches approximately 60 percent design, however, we do not have enough detail to provide reliable, property-specific answers about connection requirements or costs estimates," he said.
Residents also voiced their concerns about a data center driving the efforts.
"I want to be clear: this utility expansion and the proposed JEDD are not being pursued to accommodate a planned data center. There is no data center project driving this proposal," Diaz-Guy said.
However, he said that it is important to distinguish the JEDD from land-use regulation, noting that since Unity Township is currently not zoned a developer could propose a data center with or without a JEDD.
Any such proposal would need to be evaluated separately under the permitting requirements and governmental authority applicable to that project, he explained.
"The JEDD should be considered on its actual purpose and terms, rather than treated as evidence of a data center proposal," he said.
In addition to all members of council, the three Unity Township Trustees were present at the hearing held at the East Palestine municipal building prior to the regular council meeting.
Diaz-Guy said that all three trustees and council members have provided considerable feedback and contractual adjustments to make sure a potential JEDD supports everyone in the community as best it can.