Tioga County Holds Seminar on Land Development and Data Center Ordinance
Tioga County, Pennsylvania, hosted a seminar on land development, zoning, and water use regulations, spurred by a potential data center project. The county recently adopted and amended an ordinance regarding data centers, though no specific application has been submitted. Residents voiced significant concerns about the potential environmental and water impacts of such development.
Tioga County, Pennsylvania, held a land development seminar in Mansfield, attracting approximately 125 attendees, to discuss issues surrounding a potential data center project. The event, which included presentations, public comment, and a panel discussion, addressed the county's recent adoption and amendment of a data center ordinance following an inquiry from a "landman" about purchasing land for such a facility.
Rachel Courtney, director of the county planning office, noted that Tioga County lacks county-wide zoning, with only 16 of its 39 municipalities having zoning ordinances. She highlighted ongoing efforts to integrate the PA Wilds' design guide into the county's subdivision and land development ordinance. John Trant, president and CEO of Strategic Solutions, LLC, differentiated zoning from subdivision and land development ordinances, explaining how municipalities can impose conditions on non-conforming uses. County solicitor Stephanie Fera and Matt Davis from Gabriel Fera asserted the county's ordinance is as robust as legally permissible, crafted to be reasonable and enforceable to withstand potential legal challenges.
Andrew Dehoff, executive director of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, outlined the commission's role in monitoring and permitting water use exceeding specific daily thresholds, confirming no data center applications for water permits have been submitted in the SRBC region. He also mentioned that some data centers utilize dry or non-water cooling techniques. The public comment session revealed strong resident concerns about potential impacts on water quantity, water quality, tourism, wildlife, and the environment. Austin Mundis, a veteran from Blossburg, expressed his opposition to what he called