Northampton County schedules May 4 public hearing to consider moratorium on data centers

The Northampton County Board of Commissioners on April 6 voted to set a public hearing for May 4 to consider placing a moratorium on proposed data centers while staff and the board draft ordinances regulating such facilities. The planning board formally requested the moratorium process and asked for a 12-month period to develop appropriate zoning language.

County attorney Michaela McKellar told the board that state law requires a public hearing for any moratorium that exceeds 61 days and outlined the statutory notice window: the first publication must be not less than 10 days and not more than 25 days before the hearing. Based on those timelines, McKellar recommended the board hold the hearing at its earliest regularly scheduled meeting on April 20 or at its May 4 meeting; the board voted to schedule the hearing for May 4.

Supporters of a moratorium said the pause would give the county time to study rules that would govern data-center siting, setbacks and other conditions. Several speakers warned residents had been alarmed by the possibility of data centers and urged transparency. At the same time, some participants cautioned that a local government cannot simply enact a rule that bars a lawful use outright; one resident said, "just make a rule that says you can't have a data center," and another countered that would be illegal. McKellar reiterated that the moratorium would provide time for legal review and public input but would not itself be a blanket ban.

Commissioner Kisha Wooden told the board she is opposed to data centers and urged full transparency so residents would not be left uncertain about the county's position; she said the board should consider whether permanent land-use rules are appropriate once the study period concludes. During the discussion members referenced different possible moratorium lengths (the planning board asked for 12 months; speakers also mentioned figures of 32 and 36 months during the meeting).

The board took no final regulatory action on data-center rules at the April 6 meeting; it set the May 4 public hearing to receive public comment and to consider enacting a moratorium in accordance with statutory notice requirements. The board also noted it could call a special meeting if it wished to accelerate the process.