New Castle considers zoning amendments to address data centers, add new zoning district near Frackville

New Castle Township Supervisors are actively considering significant zoning amendments that would introduce a new highway industrial zoning district and specific regulations for data centers. This initiative comes in response to a New York firm's acquisition of land in the township's northern region, near Frackville, which has sparked local apprehension regarding potential data center development and its environmental and community impacts. The proposed ordinance would permit data centers by conditional use within the new industrial district, necessitating a hearing before the New Castle Township Zoning Hearing Board. Key standards under consideration include regulations for woodland disturbance, lighting, water and sewer services, emergency response plans, and landscaping buffers. A mandatory environmental impact study would also be required for data center projects. A public hearing on these amendments is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, at 1 PM at the township building, to be immediately followed by a special meeting where supervisors will vote on the proposals. The area around the former Schuylkill Mall, in the extreme northeast of the township, is slated for inclusion in the new Highway Industrial zoning district.