JUSTIFICATION FOR COMMERCIAL MORATORIUM IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; WRITTEN FINDINGS REQUIRED

(a) If a municipality adopts a moratorium on commercial property development that is not based on a demonstrated shortage of essential public facilities, the municipality must issue written findings based on reasonably available information that the moratorium is justified by demonstrating that applying existing commercial development ordinances or regulations and other applicable laws is inadequate to prevent the new development from being detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare of the residents of the municipality. (b) The written findings must include a summary of: (1) evidence demonstrating the need to adopt new ordinances or regulations or to amend existing ordinances, including identification of the harm to the public health, safety, or welfare that will occur if a moratorium is not adopted; (2) the geographical boundaries in which the moratorium will apply; (3) the specific types of commercial property to which the moratorium will apply; and (4) the objectives or goals to be achieved by adopting new ordinances or regulations or amending existing ordinances or regulations during the period the moratorium is in effect.