LORDSTOWN — Village council passed as an emergency an ordinance that places a 180-day moratorium on the granting of any new permits for future data centers in the community.

More than 50 people attended a public hearing Monday that allowed for citizen input before council’s vote. Council also held a 30-minute executive session prior to the vote.

The unanimous vote approved a moratorium that prevents the village from accepting or processing data center applications and permits for up to 180 days, which is about six months.

Newly elected Councilman Mark McGrail, attending his first official meeting, said despite what some people have said, the moratorium is “not antibusiness.”

“Nothing could be further from the truth. We are actually at the forefront of the movement to regulate these businesses in a reasonable manner. There are over 200 data centers in Ohio. We are the fourth largest state occupied by the most data centers,” McGrail said.

He said many townships and cities have taken up this issue and passed moratoriums, and others are working on them.

McGrail said the residents and officials have questions, and the moratorium will allow time for getting those answers.

“The moratorium will allow us to take the time and do research to get answers to our questions. That is not unreasonable,” McGrail said.

Several residents at the meeting said they would be in favor of the moratorium, but preferred an outright ban on data centers.

Jeff Alderman said it is important that communities speak out against data centers.

He said Bristolville 25 Developer LLC is the company trying to come in and build this data center.

“They are trying to sneak their way into our community. I have lived in Las Vegas and other parts of the world, and people do not want data centers. Our elected officials have said no to data centers on our behalf. I really hope that when we say no again, that will be the end of it,” Alderman said.

David Woodworth said he was in New Albany to visit his son, and there is a data center that has created a situation that is not good, such as a lot of noise coming from the facility.

“I am really hoping that does not happen here. I am worried for my property values. We love this village and do not want a data center,” Woodworth said.

Laura Czoka said she supports a moratorium on data centers, noting she is against the potential excessive noise and excessive use of water and the increased utility rates that could happen if a data center locates in Lordstown.

“Lordstown cannot support a data center. Most of the residents are here in support of the moratorium. We need the time to review data centers so the community is prepared,” Czoka said.

“It is important that council remembers and invests in the residents and their concerns,” Cassandra Filipovich said.

Resident Edna Gillette said in a letter to council, which was read at the meeting, her concern is about the water consumption by a data center.

“I am concerned that the data centers will take over the village and will not be good for anyone. I fear the village we chose to live in and raise our families in will become one big industrial park. I cannot imagine how much land this data center will take up,” Gillette said.

Attorney Cary Snyder, an attorney representing Bristolville 25 Developer LLC, said the moratorium does not list the company from being excluded. He said Bristolville LLC should be excluded from the moratorium since the company initiated the site plan process in October.

“Bristolville has been asking for this since October, and this moratorium appears on your agenda tonight,” Snyder said.

He said as for concerns about water usage with data centers, he said the project will not use any public water.

Snyder said anyone can see the public records submitted by Bristolville 25 LLC, which clearly explain this and other aspects of the project.

Officials said it is their understanding Bristolville 25 wants to proceed immediately with construction for the planned building after gaining approval from the village’s planning and zoning department.

“Will the fire department need any extra equipment for this data center? Will our fire and police departments be able to handle anything that goes on there?” asked resident Philip Fisher.

Officials said the moratorium will allow council and village officials to study how data center facilities will affect the community, as well as allow for the update of zoning rules.

“It’s not bad for a village and its residents to ask questions,” McGrail said.

Also at the meeting, council voted 6-0 against a proposed plan for the village to enter into an agreement with Verdantas for engineering and site plan work on the Bristolville LLC project on state Route 45. Verdantas is an integrated environmental science, engineering and consulting firm.