Construction tree-clearing plans filed with Ohio EPA
Construction tree-clearing plans for Project Klondike were filed with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, formally moving site preparation work into the regulatory permit pipeline.
Project Timeline
A chronological record of public actions, filings, and meetings related to Project Klondike, sorted newest first.
2026
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City of Piqua and J5 / Klondike execute project agreements
Two of the principal agreements between the City of Piqua and the project entity were fully executed and signed on the same day: the Development Agreement (which sets the PILOT payment schedule referenced in Ordinance O-18-25) and the Water and Wastewater Agreement (which establishes the $75 million developer-funded infrastructure escrow). Both agreements were originally authorized by Resolution R-114-25 on November 3, 2025.
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Development Agreement executed
The Development Agreement between the City of Piqua and J5 / Klondike was signed and fully executed. This agreement contains the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) schedule — $735,000 per qualifying building annually for tax years 1–5, stepping up to the greater of $735,000 per building or $1,470,000 aggregate plus CPI for years 6–20 — that Ordinance O-18-25 references.
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Water and Wastewater Agreement executed
The Water and Wastewater Agreement between the City of Piqua and J5 / Klondike was signed and fully executed. This is the agreement that establishes the developer-funded escrow account (up to $75 million per the Water & Wastewater Addendum) that pays for design and construction of public water, sewer, and related infrastructure on or near the project site, in lieu of City borrowing.
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2025
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Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting
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City staff presentation on the J5 / Project Klondike datacenter project
City staff presented background on the proposed datacenter development to the Commission and the public ahead of the votes on Ordinance O-18-25 and Resolutions R-114-25, R-115-25, and R-116-25. The presentation slides are linked below.
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TIF and PILOT framework for the J5 project site
Establishes a tax increment financing (TIF) arrangement for the project site under ORC 5709.40(B). Declares the planned improvements a public purpose, exempts them from real property taxation, and requires the owners to make annual service payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT). Creates a public improvement TIF fund, authorizes compensation agreements with Piqua City Schools and the Upper Valley Career Center, and was passed as an emergency.
Passed 4–0- Yea
- Vetter, Hohman, DeBrosse, Lee
- Absent
- Simmons
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Authorize agreements with J5, LLC for datacenter development
Authorizes the City to execute agreements with J5, LLC governing the development, construction, and operation of one or more data centers, accessory uses, and related infrastructure — utility buildings, structures, and appurtenances — on or adjacent to the project site.
Passed 4–0- Yea
- Vetter, Hohman, DeBrosse, Lee
- Absent
- Simmons
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Modify agreement with Bricker Graydon for legal services
Authorizes the City Manager to modify an existing agreement with Bricker Graydon for economic development legal services.
Passed 4–0- Yea
- Vetter, Hohman, DeBrosse, Lee
- Absent
- Simmons
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Modify agreement with Encompass Engineering for engineering services
Authorizes the City Manager to modify an existing agreement with Encompass Engineering for economic development engineering services.
Passed 4–0- Yea
- Vetter, Hohman, DeBrosse, Lee
- Absent
- Simmons
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Upper Valley Career Center Board of Education Meeting
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Approve TIF agreement with the City of Piqua
The Board of Education of the Upper Valley Career Center approved the TIF agreement covering the Project Klondike datacenter site. This approval is a prerequisite to the City Commission's adoption of Ordinance O-18-25 on November 3, 2025, which formally authorized the compensation agreements between the City, the school district, and the Career Center as part of the TIF framework.
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Piqua City Schools Board of Education Meeting
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Approve TIF agreement with the City of Piqua
The Board of Education of the Piqua City School District approved the TIF agreement covering the Project Klondike datacenter site. This approval is a prerequisite to the City Commission's adoption of Ordinance O-18-25 on November 3, 2025, which formally authorized the compensation agreements between the City, the school district, and the Upper Valley Career Center as part of the TIF framework.
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Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting
Three resolutions adopted concerning related parcels associated with the Project Klondike datacenter site: two annexations from Washington Township and a zoning map amendment designating four parcels as IH (Heavy Industrial).
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Annex 31.5 acres from Washington Township
Annexes 31.5 acres of land from Washington Township into the City of Piqua. Related to the Project Klondike datacenter site.
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Annex 1.5 acres from Washington Township
Annexes 1.5 acres of land from Washington Township into the City of Piqua. Related to the Project Klondike datacenter site.
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Zoning map amendment — designate four parcels as IH (Heavy Industrial)
Approves a zoning map amendment to designate parcels M40-011900, M40-011800, M40-011700, and M40-011600 as IH (Heavy Industrial). All four parcels are part of the Project Klondike datacenter site.
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The Piqua Land Company II LLC filed with Ohio Secretary of State
The Piqua Land Company II LLC (Ohio entity #5410142) was filed with the Ohio Secretary of State by Matthew S. Zeiger of New Albany, Ohio — the same filer who organized The Piqua Land Company LLC (entity #5199842) in March 2024.
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Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting
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Accept annexation of 329.824 acres from Washington Township
Accepts the annexation of 329.824 acres of land from Washington Township into the City of Piqua. The annexation packet linked below covers both the annexation and the related zoning designation considered at the meeting.
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2024
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Piqua Planning Commission Meeting
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Zoning designation request for the Project Klondike site
Case PC-25-25 — a zoning designation request related to the Project Klondike site — came before the Piqua Planning Commission. The full case packet is linked below.
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Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting
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Authorize Fishbeck engineering agreement for I-75 Exit 78 Master Plan, Phase I ($1,985,000)
Authorizes the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Fishbeck for engineering services on the I-75 Exit 78 Development Area Master Plan Project — Phase I, at a total of $1,985,000. The Exit 78 area is the corridor where the J5 / Project Klondike datacenter site is located, and this engineering work is part of the public infrastructure planning that the project later relies on.
Passed 4–0- Yea
- Vetter, Hohman, DeBrosse, Lee
- Absent
- Simmons
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City of Piqua engages Bricker Graydon LLP for the datacenter project
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Engagement of Bricker Graydon LLP as Special Legal Counsel and Consultant
The City of Piqua's Economic Development Department engaged Bricker Graydon LLP as Special Legal Counsel and Consultant for what would become the Project Klondike datacenter. Resolution R-115-25 (Nov 3, 2025) later authorized the City Manager to modify this existing agreement.
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Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting
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Add Data Center to industrial uses in the Piqua Development Code
Third and final reading of Ordinance O-5-24, which passed at this meeting. The ordinance amends Title XV (Land Usage) of the Piqua Development Code to add 'Data Center' as a Special use in the IL (Light Industrial) district and a Permitted use in the IH (Heavy Industrial) district. No commissioner comments, no deliberation, and no public comment on this change.
Passed 4–0- Yea
- Vetter, Hohman, DeBrosse, Lee
- Absent
- Simmons
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Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting
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Add Data Center to industrial uses in the Piqua Development Code
Second reading of Ordinance O-5-24 (Title XV amendment adding 'Data Center' as a Special use in IL and a Permitted use in IH). See the Apr 16, 2024 entry for the proposed text and the May 21, 2024 entry for the third reading and final passage vote.
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Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting
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Add Data Center to industrial uses in the Piqua Development Code
First reading of Ordinance O-5-24, which amends Title XV (Land Usage) of the Piqua Development Code to add 'Data Center' to industrial uses — as a Special use in the IL (Light Industrial) district and a Permitted use in the IH (Heavy Industrial) district. Commissioner DeBrosse was absent. No commissioner comments, no deliberation, and no public comment on this change.
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The Piqua Land Company LLC filed with Ohio Secretary of State
The Piqua Land Company LLC (Ohio entity #5199842) was filed with the Ohio Secretary of State by Matthew S. Zeiger of New Albany, Ohio. This LLC subsequently purchased land that was later used for the Project Klondike datacenter development.
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City of Piqua engages Bricker Graydon LLP for CRA consultation services
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Engagement of Bricker Graydon LLP for CRA consultation services
The City of Piqua issued Purchase Order 0000025431 to Bricker Graydon LLP for CRA consultation services. This engagement predates the broader datacenter-project engagement (PO 0000025963, Aug 6 2024) and the formation of The Piqua Land Company LLC (Mar 14 2024). The Community Reinvestment Area framework consulted on here became central to the eventual TIF / PILOT structure adopted under Ordinance O-18-25 (Nov 3 2025).
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