Plymouth Township Council Questioned Over Lack of Data Center Moratorium
Plymouth Township's council has not utilized state law to implement an 180-day moratorium for data centers, despite a proposed two-million-square-foot data center project. This inaction is highlighted in contrast to Whitemarsh Township, which is drafting an ordinance to regulate data centers, allowing them by conditional use in specific zoning districts.
MoreThanTheCurve reports on Plymouth Township's council's failure to enact a 180-day moratorium on data center development, despite state law allowing such measures. This inaction is notable given a proposed nearly two-million-square-foot data center slated for the former steel plant in the Conshohocken section of Plymouth Township, and the council has not responded to inquiries regarding their decision.
In contrast, neighboring Whitemarsh Township's planning commission is actively reviewing a draft ordinance to regulate data centers. This proposed regulation would allow data centers by conditional use within six of the township’s zoning districts. The draft ordinance was developed using a model from Montgomery County, in collaboration with Chester County, and PennFuture, taking into account distances from sensitive areas like residences and schools. The author highlights the disparity between Whitemarsh's proactive regulatory efforts and Plymouth Township's apparent lack of action on a moratorium.