MAMAKATING — Large-scale data centers may soon be coming to the Town of Mamakating, but the Board wants to hear from you — the public — on how they should go about their arrival. The Board set a public hearing for September 15 to discuss that future: whether they should be temporarily halted, limited or outright banned.

During the work session for Tuesday night’s meeting, Town Supervisor Peter Goodman laid out the business, which involved the Town potentially placing a moratorium on data centers that have become increasingly widespread in several municipalities nationwide as they weigh the possible impacts of the large-scale facilities.

The topic isn’t new to the Board, as they have already been discussing the matter amongst themselves before bringing the idea before the public.

“I know everybody’s pretty familiar with these data centers,” Goodman explained.

He described data centers as large computer facilities that require large amounts of electricity and water for cooling. Instead of immediately deciding on a course of action, the Town’s decision was to bring the matter before the public to gather community input.

“The public [will be able to] comment on the direction that we should be going in,” Goodman explained.

Several possible approaches were raised, ranging from temporary restrictions on data centers through a moratorium to ultimately banning them. Discussions also touched on their potential construction and placing a size limit on how large they should be if they do end up getting built.

New York had previously enacted a first-in the-nation one year temporary moratorium on what Goodman described as “hyperscale” data centers, which usually refer to facilities of 50 megawatts or larger. The Town is weighing whether it should formulate a different restriction or decide whether the centers should be allowed at all.

“We’re going to set a public hearing,” Goodman said. “There’s the discussion whether it’s a moratorium or do we do an outright ban.”

With the public hearing scheduled for September 15, the ball is now in the public’s court. Goodman is encouraging residents to thoroughly research the subject, “talk to your neighbors,” and come ready to share their thoughts and opinions.

While the public is encouraged to bring those thoughts to the September 15 meeting, Goodman stressed that the Board has no intentions of making its ultimate decision that night.

Instead, the level of public participation and discussion that happens that night could be a determinant for future meetings as the Town works through the matter.

“We’re not looking to make a decision on the 15th, but inviting public discussion,” Goodman stated.

During public comment, Mamakating resident and Bashakill Area Association member Frank Coviello commended the Board for taking what he dubbed a proactive approach to possible development.

Additionally, he urged the Town to consider more measures targeted toward potential environmental impacts, such as a clean air law like the one recently adopted by the Village of Monticello.

He added that the Bashakill Area Association bought an air-quality monitoring system at its own expense, with which they’ll place monitors at different locations throughout Mamakating to establish baseline air-quality data.

“I think it’s vital for this board to start thinking about that,” stressed Coviello, urging the Town to take a more proactive approach to development and environmental concerns.

The upcoming September 15 hearing — with the motion to approve made by Councilman Rob Rogers and seconded by Councilman Matthew Mordas — will give Mamakating residents the chance to share their thoughts before the Town decides what, if any, regulations should be considered pertaining to Mamakating’s potential data centers.