MOUNT ORAB, Ohio — Nearly 900 residents in Mount Orab have signed a petition calling for a pause to plans to redevelop a massive "mega site" in the village.
"Despite the scale and pace of activity, residents have been given little clear information about what is planned, how decisions were made, or how the public is expected to participate," the petition reads. "Many residents feel entirely left out of decisions that will permanently reshape the community. That sense of exclusion cannot be overlooked."
The 1,018-acre site sits near the heart of the village and is bordered by Oakland Road, New Hope-White Oak Station Road and Tri-County Highway. The village has the property listed on its website under the "development" tab. The property listing reads, "no longer available."
"There's a lot of things that people are connecting patterns on that make them think it's a data center," Michael LaTour, who lives a mile away from the site, said. "It's not a problem with the fact that technology exists. It's about location, public process and transparency, and we don't have any of that happening."
LaTour said he first became aware that something was going on months ago, when he noticed buildings near the site were being demolished.
"When the land movement started to happen, when the building started being removed, that's when we noticed and started paying attention," he told us.
A Facebook group called "Mt. Orab Residents for Responsible Development" was created Jan. 10 and already has more than 1,700 members. Days before its creation, during a Jan. 6 village council meeting, elected officials confirmed they had signed nondisclosure agreements regarding the site, residents said.
Dozens of people showed up to a city council meeting Tuesday, where only 33 people total, including village staff, council and media members, were allowed inside the council chambers. The hallway leading to the meeting room was packed with people, and some people were left outside.
WATCH: We hear the concerns from residents inside Mount Orab's city council chambers
At the meeting, one person, Elyse Glover, said the council should have allowed for a venue change.
"The fact that we've got people out there in the cold, we're trying to do what you say, can't hear you, is not giving anybody any faith," Glover said.
Council members openly admitted to signing non-disclosure agreements pertaining to the property.
Member Eric Lang spoke up after one person demanded accountability and said he was happy to see people come and speak publicly, and announced that he has rescinded his signature on the non-disclosure agreement, leaving him in a "legal gray area."
He said he signed it because it was the only way he'd learn details about the project, but said he was never briefed.
WATCH: Mount Orab appears to have plans for 1,000 acres of land. Residents say they want to know more.
"You've got four new members on this council. This is probably the first time this has ever happened, and I've known these people my entire life," Lang said.
Lang said he believes that the four new members are concerned about what's happening.
"I'll just go ahead and tell you flat out I have the same concerns that you probably have," he said.
Village officials voted to hold a special meeting at a larger venue to hear people's concerns at the end of Tuesday's meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Jan. 27 at Western Brown Middle School's gymnasium.
