Newtown Township moves revised data center ordinance to jointure

Newtown Township supervisors have voted to advance a revised data center ordinance to the Joint Municipal Zoning Council for public hearings, a critical step towards establishing regulatory control over data center development. The board's decision came after months of deliberation, input from the planning commission, and concerns voiced by residents seeking stronger protections and greater transparency regarding such facilities.

Township solicitor Dave Sander highlighted the urgency of adopting a data center definition within the zoning ordinance, explaining that without it, data center facilities could be located anywhere. Board Chair Ed Merriman echoed this, emphasizing the immediate need for a baseline ordinance to prevent unregulated development, even if it's not yet perfect, with plans for future refinements based on recommendations from the Bucks County Planning Commission.

Supervisor Phil Calabro expressed frustration over delays in adopting the ordinance and voiced strong opposition to LightPath, a company seeking to run fiber infrastructure through the township to reach a data center. LightPath is currently in preliminary discussions with the township regarding a revised route after issues arose in an adjacent borough. Residents, including Kimberly Caputo, raised concerns during public comment about the transparency of the ordinance-drafting process and the perceived weakness of the proposed regulations compared to model ordinances elsewhere, advocating for stronger measures against large-scale data center development.

The board ultimately voted to send the ordinance to the jointure, which includes Newtown, Wrightstown, and Upper Makefield townships, signifying a significant move towards regulating data centers in the region.