The Lordstown village council voted Monday evening on a proposed six-month pause for future data center projects.

The unanimous vote approved a moratorium that prevents the village from accepting or processing data center applications and permits for up to 180 days. It was taken at the council's regular meeting, following a public hearing on the legislation.

Ahead of the vote, local leaders said that the pause was necessary to study how these facilities affect the community.

"There are over 200 data centers already existing in Ohio," Councilman Mark McGrail said during the regular council meeting. "It's not bad for a village and its residents to ask questions."

A moratorium council committee was also formed following the vote, to be chaired by McGrail. Councilors Robert Bond and Jamie Moseley will also be on the committee.

McGrail told 21 News the moratorium committee will conduct research on the potential regulations that may need to be added to the village code in order to prevent any adverse affects from data centers to residents or the environment. 

That research could include reaching out to other communities that are already home to data centers, a strategy which Mayor Jackie Woodward encouraged.

"Talking to residents and local government there to find out what the resources are that are required to have a data center there, and whether or not it's going to be sustainable for us, and pros and cons of it ... is a great start," Woodward told 21 News in an interview. 

At the meeting, village council also voted down an ordinance for Lordstown to enter into an agreement with Verdantas, LLC regarding the proposed data center project from Bristolville 25 Developer, LLC. Verdantas is an integrated environmental science, engineering and consulting firm.

The legislation would have started work on a site plan review for the proposed data center, estimated to cost around $50,000.

Prior to the vote, Cary Snyder — the attorney who represents Bristolville in its litigation against Lordstown at the Ohio Supreme Court — urged council to support it. Snyder also asked council to grant Bristolville an exception to the moratorium, which it did not elect to do before voting. 

After the meeting, Snyder declined to comment on the council's votes, citing the ongoing litigation.