Lysander board approves six-month data center moratorium; residents speak out against project proposal

The Lysander Town Board approved a six-month moratorium on data center applications following a contentious public hearing on Thursday, May 7. The decision came after a packed crowd of residents gathered at Lysander Town Hall to voice strong opposition to a proposed data center project in the town. Before public comments began, board members announced their intention to vote in favor of the temporary pause, drawing applause from the audience. Residents, nearly all of whom spoke against the proposal, urged the project's cessation or at least a halt through a moratorium. The moratorium, set to expire on November 6, 2026, aims to provide village leaders and residents with additional time to study the potential impacts of data storage facilities. Concerns raised by residents included environmental issues like "heat island effects" and "water emissions through cooling towers," along with significant "utility draw" and the potential change to the community's character. Paul Doody, a retired chemical environmental engineer, expressed relief at the board's action but suggested a longer moratorium would have been preferable. The board's announcement appeared to alleviate some tensions in the room, with the six-month pause allowing for further review before revisiting the issue.