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Residents tell planning commission to proceed cautiously on data centers, citing water, noise and town character
Summary
At the public hearing on the proposed moratorium, speakers described concerns about aquifers, noise, lights and preserving farmland and community character; several urged resident involvement in drafting any ordinance.
Multiple residents addressed the planning commission during the public comment portion of the moratorium hearing, urging caution and resident involvement in any data center regulation.
Michael Garinger told the commission he supported the moratorium and said his conversations across the region showed diverse opinions about data centers. "I am for your moratorium," he said. Tandy Holloway Jones, whose comments mirrored testimony given at a prior council meeting, urged forming a residents' committee to participate in ordinance drafting and raised concerns about operational impacts: "They are very loud. They have lights. You can see them from miles away." Nancy Hayes invoked family history and local identity in urging collective action to protect farms, water and quality of life: she said her family farm has been in operation since 1853 and described why local engagement matters.
Speakers conveyed both support for local economic opportunities and strong concerns about infrastructure strain, water use and long‑term impacts on agricultural land and town character. The commission heard these comments before voting to forward the moratorium recommendation to town council.
