NEW RUSSIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio — The New Russia Township Zoning Commission on Tuesday recommended denying a rezoning request tied to the county’s controversial plan to build a “mega site” on 600 acres of farmland.
In a 4-1 vote, the commission recommended that the Board of Trustees deny a request from a private developer on behalf of four landowners to rezone land near the Lorain County Regional Airport from agricultural and residential use to industrial.
The recommendation followed a marathon public hearing on Tuesday that drew an estimated 300 residents and forced township officials to move the meeting from its usual small meeting room to a larger community hall often used for weddings and events.
Both sides of the room were filled as speaker after speaker urged the commission to reject the rezoning, citing concerns about pollution, traffic, noise, light and the permanent loss of productive farmland.
The hearing focused on a rezoning request for nine parcels of land — totaling 622 acres – along State Route 58, Russia Road and Oberlin Road near the Lorain County Regional Airport. The application was submitted by Dru Siley, vice president of development for Liberty Development Company, acting as the representative for four landowners seeking the zone change.
After hours of testimony, commission members Geoffrey Kudlo, Dawn Essex, Kimberly Guelker and Jina Jordan voted to recommend denial. Chairperson James Griner cast the only dissenting vote, effectively supporting the rezoning request.
Kudlo said the proposal failed to meet the standards outlined in the township’s zoning resolution, including public necessity, public safety, general welfare and good zoning practice. He added that testimony at the hearing pointed toward the proposal being a burden on the community.
The zoning commission’s recommendation now heads to the township’s three-member Board of Trustees, which has final authority over rezoning decisions.
The rezoning request is tied to a broader plan to develop a roughly 1,000-acre industrial mega site intended to attract major manufacturers. In July 2025, the state awarded $67.4 million from the All Ohio Future Fund for infrastructure improvements linked to the project.
Grassroots opposition has grown steadily in recent months. Yard signs reading “No Mega Site” have spread across New Russia Township and nearby communities, with residents estimating about 700 signs have been printed with more on the way this spring.
Those concerns have been voiced in public forums beyond New Russia, including at a Lorain County Commissioners meeting last year when residents demanded clarity about the project, saying it was moving forward with insufficient public input and a significant funding gap.
Last week, state Rep. Kellie Deeter issued a statement urging county officials to pause the acceptance of the $67.4 million in state funding. Deeter, a Norwalk Republican, encouraged leaders to “engage in meaningful dialogue with residents before moving forward” and “explore whether adjustments can be made that still meet the program requirements while better reflecting community input.”