Dallas Twp. Board of Supervisors approves data center zoning amendment

The Dallas Township Board of Supervisors approved a zoning amendment to regulate data centers during a special meeting at Dallas High School, despite considerable opposition from residents. The board unanimously passed a revised version of the amendment, which followed a public hearing on January 14. However, residents like Junell Guarneri and Hannah Butterwick expressed dissatisfaction, arguing the supervisors failed to incorporate many of their suggestions. Concerns focused on the ordinance's perceived lack of restrictiveness, particularly regarding setback requirements, which Butterwick noted were reduced from 3,500 feet to 500 feet along property lines, contrasting with stronger ordinances in neighboring municipalities. Supervisor Bill Grant defended the board's decision, emphasizing that passing some protective measures immediately was crucial to prevent unregulated data center applications. Township Manager Joe Moskovitz added that further major changes would necessitate re-advertising and another lengthy hearing. Despite the approval, the board committed to holding a work session the following week with interested residents to discuss potential future amendments to the ordinance. Under the newly approved ordinance, data centers are permitted only in the General Industrial District (I-1) and require conditional use approval, ensuring public hearings before any project can proceed.