North Lebanon Township Drafts Zoning Ordinance to Regulate Data Centers
North Lebanon Township is actively drafting a new zoning ordinance specifically to regulate future data center developments within the municipality. Supervisors anticipate that data center developers will eventually target the area and are proactively preparing regulations, as current zoning does not adequately address these facilities.
The North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors announced at its recent monthly meeting that solicitor Amy Leonard is actively drafting a new zoning ordinance designed to regulate data centers. This proactive measure comes as supervisors anticipate that data center developers will inevitably target the municipality, given that current zoning regulations do not specifically address such facilities, potentially allowing developers to argue for placement in any district.
Supervisor Ed Brensinger highlighted the urgency, citing discussions at the PSATS conference in Hershey where data centers were a major topic and mentioning an example from Upper Merion Township, which was caught off guard by multiple data center proposals before having appropriate zoning amendments in place. Brensinger expressed concern about the financial power of developers and the need to be prepared to manage their impact to ensure compatibility with local residents.
The proposed ordinance aims to specify in which zoning districts data centers will be permitted and to establish clear regulations for their use, thereby allowing the township to control future development rather than react to it. This initiative reflects a growing trend among local governments to establish regulatory frameworks for data centers before specific projects are proposed.