The amendment would cover facilities primarily used for digital information services that require at least 25 megawatts of power per month. A “yes” vote would add the ban to the charter; a “no” vote would leave the city without that restriction.

Residents organized with Big Walnut for Responsible Growth gathered 351 signatures to place the measure on the ballot. The group has urged voters to weigh potential effects on Sunbury’s rural character, including data centers’ electricity and water demands, noise and air pollution, and proximity to homes, farms and schools.

The vote follows a unanimous City Council decision to impose a temporary moratorium on data-center development through Jan. 31. The pause came amid public opposition, including concerns about Amazon’s proposed project. If the moratorium is not extended, the city could have the option to resume development discussions; a charter ban would likely block the project outright.

City leaders approved an economic-development incentive for Amazon in 2024 for a proposed $2 billion data-center campus. The package offered a property-tax exemption of 87.5% for 15 years, followed by a 75% exemption for another 15 years. The project, which the city described as the largest single investment in Sunbury’s history, is expected to create 50 local jobs and could boost the economy.

The campus is not cleared to proceed: Amazon and the city still need to approve a development agreement, officials said. The proposed site is subject to zoning provisions that limit lighting and cap noise at the property line at 80 decibels, roughly comparable to a blender or city traffic.

Sunbury had 8,857 residents in July 2025, according to the U.S. Census. The question before voters reflects a broader debate in Ohio over how communities balance promised economic development against the local costs of energy-intensive facilities.