North Coventry Township in Chester County may draft a data center ordinance

After intense resident opposition, North Coventry Township supervisors in Chester County, Pennsylvania, are initiating the process to draft a data center ordinance. This decision follows the rejection of a "boutique" data center proposal from developer Envision Land Use earlier this year, which was voted down 3-2 by the board before formal submission. The township's action reflects a growing trend across municipalities in Chester and Montgomery Counties. Local governments are seeking to establish clearer regulations for data center developments, which often spark community concerns regarding water usage, power supply, and noise. Several other townships, including Tredyffrin, West Bradford, and Uwchlan, are also in various stages of developing or weighing similar ordinances and standards. For instance, Uwchlan Township is focusing on noise, energy usage, and water consumption within its industrial uses ordinance. In East Brandywine, supervisors recently appointed special counsel as a developer seeks to change the township's zoning to permit a data center. These efforts come amidst two other Chester County data center projects in East Vincent and East Whiteland, which have navigated municipal processes while facing significant public opposition.