Tredyffrin is ‘getting ahead of the game’ with a new ordinance that would limit data centers

Tredyffrin Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, has initiated the process to draft an ordinance that would impose limitations on data center developments within its jurisdiction. The unanimous decision by the seven-person board to authorize township staff to create zoning amendments comes amidst a surge in data center proposals across Pennsylvania, particularly in Chester and neighboring counties. While Tredyffrin currently has no data center applications, officials, including board supervisor Hans van Mol, emphasized the need to be proactive. They noted that other municipalities have faced challenges due to a reactive approach, being forced to "play catch up" after applications were already pending. The proposed ordinance would give municipal leaders greater control over future developments, addressing concerns such as scale, aesthetics, energy sources, backup power, water usage, and noise. This local initiative follows the joint publication of guidance on data center ordinances by Chester and Montgomery Counties, offering a framework for municipalities to navigate these complex proposals. The guidance outlines suggested ordinance language and key areas for regulation. The move by Tredyffrin is also set against a backdrop of significant public pushback against two large data center projects in Chester County, each nearing two million square feet. Elsewhere, opposition in North Coventry led officials to vote against a project, and residents in East Whiteland and East Vincent have voiced strong objections, with one earlier ordinance in East Vincent being scrapped due to being overly prohibitive. At the state level, several bills are addressing data center projects, with one bill directing municipalities to adopt ordinances having passed the state House of Representatives and now awaiting consideration by the state Senate. Tredyffrin supervisors, like KS Bhaskar, anticipate that data centers could eventually become the size of office parks, making the proactive ordinance crucial to avoid being unprepared for future proposals.