The mere possibility of a data centre being established in Strathroy-Caradoc has triggered a swift and vocal public backlash, with residents and local officials moving quickly to express their concerns. A zoning amendment application, ZBA19-2026, submitted by 2752894 Ontario Inc. c/o Asma Ayub, seeks to add ‘Data Centre’ as a permitted use for a significant parcel of land located at 700 Adair Boulevard at the southwest corner of Wright Street and Adair Boulevard. The property spans approximately 20.55 hectares (50.8 acres) and is currently designated ‘Employment’ within the ‘Future Development (FD)’ zone, with a portion identified for natural heritage significance. The applicant has stated no specific development is currently proposed, but the amendment would open the door for such a designation. The community’s response has been immediate. Nicole Miller launched a petition late Tuesday afternoon opposing the zoning change, reporting an overwhelming response with over a thousand signatures collected within hours and the petition shared nearly a thousand times. “We do not have enough information,” Miller stated, emphasizing that the opposition is not against technology itself, but a demand for greater transparency and understanding before allowing such a development. The petition urges Strathroy-Caradoc Council to vote ‘NO’ on the proposed amendment, arguing that a zoning change is a critical first step that makes future data centre development much easier. It highlights that residents chose to live in Strathroy-Caradoc for its small-town character, farmland, natural environment, and quality of life, qualities they believe a large-scale data centre would jeopardize. The petition outlines resident concerns regarding potential impacts on the environment, local infrastructure, water resources, energy demand, traffic, noise, and the long-term character of the township, suggesting more appropriate locations exist for this type of industrial development. Mayor Colin Grantham told CTV News, “My phone is blowing up from this.” Grantham said he will listen to all sides but stressed, “I’m against the data centre.” He said approving a zoning change without more information about intended uses would be a mistake. He acknowledged that municipalities across Canada are facing similar requests but stressed the importance of preventing the establishment of a precedent. “We see this with housing, right? I mean, if you open the door to a 15-storey apartment building here in town, that doesn’t stop someone else from asking for a 15 storey,” Grantham explained, adding that even a small, seemingly unproblematic data centre could set a path for future, larger developments. While Mayor Grantham noted that specific concerns plaguing US data centre projects, such as impacts on electricity costs or water use, might not directly apply locally, he underscored the need for clearer provincial and federal guidelines on where and how data centres should be constructed. A public participation meeting is scheduled to address the application. It will take place on Tuesday evening, Aug. 4, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the Strathroy-Caradoc city hall council chambers, located at 52 Frank Street, second floor. The meeting will be hybrid, allowing for both in-person attendance and participation via Microsoft Teams. No decisions will be made at the Aug. 4 meeting, but a significant turnout is expected. Council plans to manage attendance by rotating small groups into and out of the council chambers to ensure all voices can be heard.
