York County council unanimously adopts 9‑month moratorium on new data centers after hours of public comment

York County Council voted unanimously on July 13 to adopt a nine‑month moratorium on consideration or issuance of special exceptions, conditional‑use approvals and site‑plan acceptances for data centers in unincorporated York County.

The ordinance, passed on third reading after an extended public hearing, directs county staff and the planning and zoning committee to study the local impacts of hyperscale data‑center development — including infrastructure demands, noise, water use and potential effects on nearby homes — and to recommend changes to zoning and land‑use rules that could be adopted after the pause.

The moratorium drew dozens of residents to the podium. Many living near the QTS site and other proposed development parcels described chronic construction and operational noise, heavy truck traffic on two‑lane roads, worries about water consumption and concerns about long‑term property values. "A moratorium is not fear, it is love," Krisha Patel said during public comment, urging the council to allow time to "listen, time to study." Ken Sitchi, who said he lives about 1,500 feet from the QTS site, told the council that overnight noise and truck activity have hurt his sleep and urged councilmembers to visit affected homes.

Business and economic‑development speakers urged caution before broad restrictions. Dean Veil, president and CEO of the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce, told the council that a careful, balanced framework is appropriate and said the QTS project has used a closed‑loop cooling system and worked with utilities to minimize water demand. "QTS utilizes a closed loop cooling system that minimizes water consumption," Veil said, noting ongoing community meetings and commitments to fund required infrastructure improvements.

County staff emphasized the moratorium is a temporary administrative pause, not a prohibition on projects with vested rights. Councilmembers said they expect the nine‑month study period to include outreach to residents, independent technical review and public updates. At the close of debate the council voted to adopt the ordinance; the motion carried unanimously.

Next steps listed by councilmembers include transcription and public posting of tonight’s comments, special‑topic meetings during the moratorium, and targeted studies of noise limits, monitoring and enforceable mitigation measures. Council members said staff and the planning and zoning committee will return with proposed code amendments before the moratorium expires.