ADAMS TWP — The Adams Township Board of Supervisors approved a 180-day moratorium on applications for six types of businesses, including data centers, at their regular meeting on Monday, June 22.

In addition to data centers, the moratorium also covers “power generation plants, large-scale and accessory solar systems, last mile fulfillment center, micro-warehouses, and dispensaries.”

Chairman Russell Ford emphasized the moratorium was a preemptive measure and was not prompted by a developer proposing a data center in Adams Township.

“Most people will think that we do this because someone’s knocking on our door wanting to do that. That’s not the case,” Ford said.

“We’re trying to forward think in case somebody does knock on that door.”

The moratorium will give the Adams Township planning commission time to work on an amendment to the zoning ordinance to regulate those land uses.

At the meeting, township solicitor Michael Gallagher explained because businesses like data centers are not included in the township’s existing zoning ordinance, someone who plans to build a data center, for example, could apply to place one anywhere in the township, including on land zoned for residential use only.

By adding businesses like data centers to the zoning code, Adams Township could restrict where they could be built or require someone who wants to build a data center, for example, to apply for a conditional use permit to do so.

The final amendment to the zoning ordinance must be approved by the Board of Supervisors within 180 days.