ACAR Shares Real Estate Industry Feedback on Akron’s Proposed Data Center Zoning

On July 24, 2026, the Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® (ACAR) sent a letter to Akron City Council President Margo Sommerville and members of Council, offering feedback on the city’s proposed ordinance regulating data center development.

Writing on behalf of the association’s 6,000 members across Summit County and Northeast Ohio, ACAR CEO Mike Valerino outlined the industry’s perspective: REALTORS® serve two roles at once. They’re advocates for the kind of commercial investment that creates jobs and strengthens the tax base, and they’re equally committed to protecting residential neighborhoods and property values.

Turning Legacy Industrial Sites Into New Opportunity

The letter points to Akron’s industrial history as a strength, noting how technology and high-intensity computing projects have already brought new life to underused sites, citing the redevelopment near the former Goodyear campus in East Akron as an example. Repurposing brownfields and underutilized properties, the letter argues, brings private capital into the city and puts existing infrastructure to good use.

Balancing Growth With Neighborhood Protections

At the same time, ACAR was clear that homeowners deserve real protections, including safeguards against continuous operational noise, heavy diesel backup generator testing, and strain on the power grid. Protecting a homeowner’s quiet enjoyment and property value is described in the letter as a core priority for the association.

Five Practical Adjustments ACAR Is Asking Council to Consider

To help the ordinance strike the right balance, ACAR proposed five specific changes:

1. Clear Timelines and Objective Approval Standards
Moving data centers to a Conditional Use process adds multi-stage reviews without a set decision-making timeframe. ACAR is asking Council to establish a defined review timeline, such as 90 days for complete applications, along with clear, objective approval criteria in a published checklist format.

2. Reasonable, Capped Review Fees
The proposed ordinance includes an initial $8,500 escrow deposit with ongoing replenishment requirements and no cap on total consultant costs. ACAR is urging Council to set a maximum fee cap tied to project size, such as 1% of construction value or $50,000, whichever is less, along with itemized consultant invoices for full transparency.

3. Technical Requirements Scaled to Project Size
Custom, third-party engineering studies for water, noise, and power can cost upwards of $100,000 before preliminary approval. ACAR notes that a 10,000-square-foot server room conversion shouldn’t require the same level of technical analysis as a 500,000-square-foot hyperscale campus, and is asking for scaled requirements and city-approved standard templates for smaller projects and brownfield redevelopments.

4. Early Infrastructure Coordination
The letter supports encouraging formal coordination with electric utilities and municipal water providers at the start of the review process, so infrastructure concerns are addressed early while keeping project planning efficient.

5. Protecting Local Businesses Upgrading IT
ACAR applauded a carve-out in the ordinance that allows existing Akron companies to upgrade their own on-site computer and server rooms as an accessory use, without triggering the full conditional use process. The letter emphasizes that keeping this exemption clear matters for local business competitiveness.

Looking Ahead

ACAR closed the letter by reaffirming that thoughtful planning helps the community prepare for the housing, transportation, and infrastructure needs that come with major economic investment. As the letter puts it, REALTORS® do more than buy and sell property, they’re community partners invested in Akron’s future. ACAR says it looks forward to working with City Council to fine-tune the ordinance so Akron remains both a great place to live and an attractive place to invest.

Read the full letter here.