Project Timeline

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.

• Construction tree-clearing plans (PDF)

City of Piqua and J5 / Klondike sign project agreements

Two of the principal agreements between the City of Piqua and the project entity were 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 developer-funded infrastructure escrow). Both were originally authorized by Resolution R-114-25 on November 3, 2025.

1. Agreement

   Development Agreement signed by both parties

   The Development Agreement between the City of Piqua and J5 / Klondike was signed by both parties. 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.

   • Development Agreement, signed (PDF)
2. Agreement

   Water and Wastewater Agreement signed by both parties (addendum unsigned by J5)

   The Water and Wastewater Agreement between the City of Piqua and J5 / Klondike was signed by both parties. The agreement establishes the developer-funded escrow account (up to $75 million per the Water & Wastewater Addendum) for design and construction of public water, sewer, and related infrastructure on or near the project site, in lieu of City borrowing.

   • Water and Wastewater Agreement, signed (PDF)

Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting

1. Presentation

   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.

   • City staff presentation slides (PDF)
2. Ordinance O-18-25

   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

   • Ordinance O-18-25 — TIF agreement (PDF)
3. Resolution R-114-25

   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

4. Resolution R-115-25

   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

5. Resolution R-116-25

   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

Upper Valley Career Center Board of Education Meeting

1. Resolution VR17-2025

   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.

Piqua City Schools Board of Education Meeting

1. Resolution 1016-25

   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.

Traffic Impact Study completed by Barge Design Solutions

A Traffic Impact Study (TIS) for the Project Klondike datacenter site was completed by Barge Design Solutions. The study was obtained via a public records request.

• Traffic Impact Study (PDF)

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).

1. Resolution R-59-25

   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.

2. Resolution R-60-25

   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.

3. Resolution R-61-25

   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.

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.

City of Piqua engages Encompass Engineers & Architects for Klondike temp service

1. Purchase Order 0000027210

   Engineering services for Klondike temporary service on Washington Rd

   The City of Piqua issued Purchase Order 0000027210 to Encompass Engineers & Architects. Per the PO description, the work is for 'Engineering Services Needed for Klondike Temp Service on Washington Rd.' This is the earliest known direct procurement tied to the Project Klondike site for engineering work on the Washington Rd. corridor. The City Commission later expanded the City's spending authority with this firm via Resolution R-116-25 on November 3, 2025.

Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting

1. Resolution R-8-25

   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.

   • Annexation and zoning designation packet (PDF)

Piqua Planning Commission Meeting

1. Zoning Designation Request PC-25-25

   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.

   • PC-25-25 packet (PDF)

Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting

1. Resolution R-120-24

   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

Board of Miami County Commissioners

1. Resolution 24-09-1081

   Expedited Type 1 annexation of 329 acres from Washington Township to the City of Piqua

   Approves the expedited Type 1 annexation of approximately 329 acres of land from Washington Township into the City of Piqua. This is the county-level approval following the property-owner petition filed on September 11, 2024. The City of Piqua subsequently accepted the annexation under Resolution R-8-25 on January 28, 2025.

Petition for annexation filed with Miami County

A petition to annex approximately 329 acres of land from Washington Township into the City of Piqua was filed with the Board of Miami County Commissioners. The petitions had been signed by individual property owners on August 26, 2024. This filing initiated the county-level annexation review that resulted in Resolution 24-09-1081 on September 19, 2024, and ultimately the City Commission's acceptance of the annexation under Resolution R-8-25 on January 28, 2025.

City of Piqua engages Bricker Graydon LLP for the datacenter project

1. Purchase Order 0000025963

   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.

Piqua Improvement Corporation signs non-disclosure agreement

A non-disclosure agreement related to what would become the Project Klondike datacenter development was signed by Chris Schmiesing in his capacity as Executive Director of the Piqua Improvement Corporation. Schmiesing also serves as the City of Piqua's Economic Development Director. This is the earliest formal project document signed by a Piqua-side party that has surfaced publicly.

Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting

1. Ordinance O-5-24 (3rd reading — passed)

   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

• Meeting minutes (PDF)

Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting

1. Ordinance O-5-24 (2nd reading)

   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.

• Meeting minutes (PDF)

Piqua City Commission Regular Meeting

1. Ordinance O-5-24 (1st reading)

   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.

• Meeting minutes (PDF)

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.

City of Piqua engages Bricker Graydon LLP for CRA consultation services

1. Purchase Order 0000025431

   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).

Unsolicited offers to landowners reported (per news reporting)

According to local news reporting, around February 2024 previous landowners in the area of what later became the Project Klondike datacenter site began receiving unsolicited offers to purchase their properties. The exact day is not specified in the source. This entry is based on family interviews reported by Dayton 24/7 Now and is not drawn from a primary public record.

Source: Dayton 24/7 Now — Piqua family speaks out about impact of future data center