Lower Frederick advances proposed ordinance regulating AI data centers
Lower Frederick Township is advancing a proposed ordinance to regulate AI data centers, aiming to control their location and operations within the township. The ordinance, which would amend the zoning code to make data centers conditional uses in specific districts, is awaiting review from the Montgomery County Planning Commission. A formal discussion and potential adoption are scheduled for July 21, representing a proactive measure to address concerns about infrastructure and environmental impacts.
Lower Frederick Township is nearing the adoption of a new ordinance to regulate AI data centers, with supervisors set to consider the proposal at their July 21 meeting. The ordinance aims to amend the township's zoning code by introducing new definitions and establishing data centers and battery facilities as conditional uses within the Limited Industrial (LI) Zoning District, subject to public hearings and Board of Supervisors approval. This proactive measure comes as communities in Pennsylvania and across the nation grapple with the rapid expansion of AI-powered data centers.
Township Manager Jason Wager informed Supervisor Marla Hexter and the Board of Supervisors that comments from the Montgomery County Planning Commission, crucial for the ordinance's review, are being drafted and are anticipated before the upcoming meeting. The proposed regulations detail extensive development and operational standards, covering aspects like site design, landscaping, traffic, environmental impacts, utility demands, water/sewer usage, electrical supply, and emergency planning.
Officials emphasize the need for clear definitions and standards before formal applications are submitted, noting the varied scale and intensity of data center projects. Concerns previously raised by supervisors and consultants include power demands, noise, traffic during construction, and compatibility with residential areas. While no specific data center proposals have been filed, the township is acting preemptively, recognizing its industrially zoned land could attract developers, a sentiment echoed by neighboring Upper Frederick.