Tuesday hearing on Mercer County data center regulations
The Mercer County Regional Planning Commission is holding a public hearing to discuss updating county-wide land regulations for data centers, which will affect 36 municipalities. These proposed changes aim to standardize rules for heavy-industry operations, focusing on utility and environmental management. This initiative follows a recent data center approval in Sharon and has prompted Pine Township to consider a temporary pause on new data center applications.
The Mercer County Regional Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a meeting in Hermitage to discuss significant updates to regional land regulations specifically targeting the growth and management of data centers across Mercer County. The proposed changes, which include an amendment to the countywide Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, are designed to establish standardized rules for heavy-industry operations in 36 municipalities.
Executive Director Doniele Russell indicated that these updates are a response to expanding technology projects. The move gained urgency after the City of Sharon's zoning board recently approved the Mercer Node Development, an 80-megawatt electrical substation and multi-phase high-power computing facility on Clark Street. Pennsylvania law restricts local governments from outright banning legal industries, necessitating reliance on zoning guidelines to manage facility operations and community impact, as noted by City solicitor Brett Stedman.
Key aspects of the proposed regulations include strict utility and environmental management, such as requiring closed-loop cooling systems like the one mandated for the Sharon development to protect the Shenango River. Additionally, municipal rules are being considered to limit building heights, noise, and lighting. Amidst the county's efforts, some local communities are taking proactive steps; Pine Township is considering a pause on new data center applications, while the City of Sharon is undertaking a comprehensive modernization of its 2006 zoning map to accommodate digital businesses.