Whitemarsh Township moving fast to establish regulations for data centers
Whitemarsh Township's planning commission is rapidly developing a data center ordinance, based on models from Montgomery and Chester Counties and PennFuture, to regulate potential data center developments within its six zoning districts. This fast-tracking is due to concerns that a data center application could be submitted before regulations are adopted, potentially making the new rules unenforceable.
Whitemarsh Township's planning commission is accelerating the development of a new ordinance to regulate data centers, reviewing a draft during its July 15th meeting. The proposed regulations would allow data centers as a conditional use in six of the township's zoning districts. The township's urgency stems from the fact that Pennsylvania state law prevents municipalities from outright banning legal land uses, and they have not yet received any data center applications.
Tim Konetchy, the Montgomery County Planning Commission's liaison, assisted in reviewing the draft, which was based on model ordinances from Montgomery and Chester Counties, as well as PennFuture. Commissioners emphasized the need to adopt the ordinance quickly, as any application submitted before its enactment might not be subject to the new rules.