LORDSTOWN — The village’s moratorium committee is forwarding recommendations for changes to the current planning and zoning ordinances on the site plan review process for new businesses, including data centers.

The three-member committee, made up of council members Robert Bond, Mark McGrail and Jamie Moseley, met Wednesday and approved forwarding the recommended revisions and changes to council on current ordinances on the process for site plan review by the village planning commission.

Bond said the committee is requesting council to advertise for a public hearing within 30 days of the proposed changes for the site plan review process.

He said this will allow the public to provide input for or against the recommended revisions and changes.

The matter will be presented at Monday’s council meeting.

Solicitor Matt Ries said village council would be the one to decide to schedule a public hearing, then council can decide on whether to give the changes three readings at separate meetings.

McGrail said he understands that any changes to the current site review ordinance could affect any application by a business, including a data center.

“There are many issues that come before the planning commission before they come before the council. If the planning commission votes to approve, we on council still have to do our due diligence and our research based on the business. We have to look at how a business will affect our infrastructure, our community, our residents,” he said.

Mayor Jackie Woodward asked if the planning commission gives approval to something because the site plan is correct and in a properly zoned area, and then council does not vote for it, if the business has to go through the site plan review process again.

Officials said if there are issues and council doesn’t support the business’ plan, then the issues need to be addressed again and any changes made.

Ries said the business or company could appeal council’s decision if the project is in a properly zoned area and the site plan meets all guidelines.

He said council is required to review the recommendations that come from the planning commission.

“We only have so much developable land in the village for commercial and industrial use, which is an issue of concern,” McGrail said.

Bond said residents want elected officials to make the decisions.

The planning commission has three appointed members and also two elected members.

“The residents want more of a representative type of decision by elected officials. These larger projects need to come before council for a decision,” Bond said.

Woodward said the planning commission is enforcing the laws the village has created.

McGrail said the responsibility of the decisions needs to be in the hands of the elected officials that the people voted to put in office.

Bond said if a public hearing takes place, residents can speak and ask questions before council votes on any changes to the site plan review process.