Doylestown Township hopes to limit data centers
Doylestown Township supervisors are pursuing a curative amendment to alter its zoning code to restrict data centers. This legal measure would allow the township to prepare new zoning regulations regarding data center noise, water use, and size without creating a new zoning ordinance. This action aligns Doylestown with other Pennsylvania municipalities seeking to limit data center development.
Doylestown Township supervisors have unanimously initiated steps to enact a curative amendment to its zoning code, aiming to restrict data center development within the municipality. This move follows similar actions by other Pennsylvania communities seeking to prevent data centers from establishing within their borders.
The curative amendment process allows the township to declare a portion of its current zoning ordinance "substantively invalid" for not addressing data centers. This triggers a 180-day period during which Doylestown Township will develop specific new zoning regulations for data centers. These regulations are expected to cover aspects such as distance from residential areas, noise levels, water consumption, and building size.
While this process is underway, the township typically gains protection from challenges by developers to its relevant zoning. The initiative highlights a growing concern across the state and country regarding the definition and regulation of data centers, with several other Pennsylvania municipalities, including Montgomery Township and Butler Township, utilizing similar curative amendments.