East Whiteland will revise regulations for data centers

East Whiteland Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, has initiated a "curative amendment" process to revise its zoning ordinance concerning data centers. This decision comes amidst growing public opposition to a proposed 1.6 million-square-foot data center. Board Chairman Scott Lambert stated that the board heard residents' concerns through numerous public inputs. The unanimous vote by the board of supervisors on Tuesday night will temporarily pause the acceptance of any new data center applications for up to 180 days. During this period, the township will draft updated regulations to ensure clarity, legal compliance with the Pennsylvania Municipals Planning Code, fairness to property owners, and protection of community health, safety, and welfare. Residents, including Kelly Donia and Anagha Kapsi from the nearby Malvern Hunt community, have expressed concerns about noise levels, environmental impact, and strain on the power grid. However, the ongoing curative amendment process will not impact the specific data center project currently before the township's board of supervisors, where developers are seeking to expand its footprint by 60%. An earlier version of this project received planning commission approval in 2024, despite being underway since 2018. Township officials noted that while they must allow various land uses, they retain the power to regulate their appearance and impact.