Wendell sets April public hearing on moratorium for data centers, data processing and crypto mining

The Wendell Board of Commissioners voted to set a public hearing on April 13, 2026, to consider a moratorium that would temporarily pause acceptance or approval of applications for data centers, data processing facilities and cryptocurrency mining while staff drafts UDO regulations to address those uses.

Planner Mr. Coats told the board the moratorium would give staff time to study potential impacts to public infrastructure, water, environmental resources, land‑use compatibility and community character and to draft appropriate UDO updates. “Those uses are clearly not defined or mentioned in our UDO,” Mr. Coats said, adding that the town is already under contract to rewrite the UDO and the moratorium would allow the town to incorporate best practices.

Board members discussed the proposed length and scope. One member asked whether the moratorium would be time‑limited; staff said the ordinance draft could state up to one year or run until the UDO is adopted, whichever comes sooner. Several members said they preferred a discrete timeline tied to the active UDO rewrite and emphasized acting proactively. A board member also cautioned that moratoria can, if not tightly limited, become indefinite delays to development.

Mr. Coats noted there are currently no applications before the town for these types of facilities. The board approved a motion to adopt a resolution setting the April 13 public hearing, and the hearing will include the proposed ordinance language and timeline options.