Board to advertise new data center ordinance
Lowhill Township officials unanimously authorized advertising a proposed ordinance creating a four-tier framework for data centers and other digital infrastructure. The ordinance includes wattage, energy, water, land-use and technical requirements, with larger facilities requiring conditional-use review in the Regional Use Overlay District 2.
The Lowhill Township Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission in Pennsylvania reviewed revisions to Ordinance No. 2026-5, which would amend the township’s zoning rules for data centers and related digital facilities. Township Manager Mike Siegel and attorney Rocco Beltrami said the revisions address wattage thresholds, water regulations and potential legal challenges involving exclusionary zoning.
The proposed four-tier framework would allow lower-impact residential and distributed computing systems through accessory-use pathways, while larger edge and hyperscale facilities would be principal uses requiring conditional-use approval in the Regional Use Overlay District 2. After discussing energy terminology, consumption and demand, the planning commission recommended advertising the ordinance, and the supervisors unanimously authorized its advertisement with minor changes.