Allentown City Council begins process to amend zoning regulations for data centers
Allentown City Council is beginning the process to amend recently approved zoning regulations for data centers, seeking to make them tougher for developers. Proposed changes include expanding setbacks, restricting zoning districts, and adding decommissioning standards. The amendments will undergo further review and a public hearing is scheduled for August 5th.
Allentown City Council has initiated the process to amend its recently adopted zoning regulations for data centers, less than a week after their initial approval. During a special meeting, Council introduced Bill 52, which aims to strengthen the guidelines for potential data center developers.
Council President Santo Napoli explained that while some members, including himself, felt the initial Bill 20 should have been tougher, amending it at the time would have delayed regulations by 90 days. The initial bill passed 4-2 on June 17, with assurances that amendments would be prioritized.
Proposed amendments include expanding setbacks from 200 to 500 feet, limiting data center permits exclusively to industrial manufacturing zoning districts (removing general industrial zoning), and implementing decommissioning standards. Planning Director Jennifer Gomez indicated that additional amendments addressing noise issues would also be introduced.
While some public speakers thanked the council for addressing concerns, others raised further objections, such as advocating for even larger setbacks. Frank Kane, managing director, countered that a 1,000-foot setback would make it impossible to locate data centers within the city's limited available space. Vicky Kistler, director of community and economic development, clarified that Allentown primarily anticipates smaller-scale data centers, as the city lacks the land for the "hyperscale" facilities seen in more rural areas. The new amendments will not apply to an existing proposed project by Langan Engineering to convert a warehouse at 2401 W. Emaus Ave. into a data center.
Bill 52 has been forwarded to the Community Economic Development Committee and requires review by the Allentown Planning Commission and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission before a public hearing on August 5, where action could be taken.