Williamsport council declares zoning ordinance invalid to regulate data centers
Williamsport City Council unanimously voted to declare a section of its 1998 zoning ordinance invalid as it pertains to data centers, including their power-generating facilities. This action aims to temporarily halt new data center development in the city by putting any proposed projects on hold.
The Williamsport City Council, in a unanimous 6-0 vote on Thursday, passed a resolution declaring a portion of its existing zoning ordinance invalid in an effort to control future data center development within the city. Introduced by Councilman Jonah Milliken and aided by Assistant City Solicitor Justin Houser, the measure targets the city's 1998 zoning code, finding it "substantively invalid" because it fails to address data centers or their ancillary uses, specifically mentioning power generating facilities.
Councilman Milliken clarified that this resolution acts as a "pause" button for development. Should a developer propose a data center project in Williamsport, the newly declared invalidity of the relevant zoning ordinance would automatically place the request on hold. The council's move reflects a broader regional discussion about municipal control over the location and development of these large, energy-intensive information storage facilities.