Pennsylvania Municipalities Address Data Center Zoning and Regulation
Franklin County Commissioners recently amended the county’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) to address data centers. However, municipalities like Chambersburg and Antrim Township are urged to proactively update their local zoning ordinances, as current codes often lack specific language for data centers. This urgency stems from the need to regulate potential data center developments, particularly given the unique challenges of electricity supply in areas like Chambersburg.
Franklin County, Pennsylvania, has seen its commissioners amend the county’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) in response to a surge in data center developments nationwide. However, this county-level action does not supersede local zoning, meaning individual boroughs and townships within Franklin County must still update their own ordinances to effectively regulate data centers. Attorney Clint Barkdoll emphasized the critical need for local municipalities to act swiftly, as current zoning codes typically lack specific provisions for data centers, potentially leaving communities vulnerable to unregulated development, similar to past issues with solar farms.
Chambersburg Borough, which operates its own electric and utility services, is actively working on updating its zoning through its Planning and Zoning Commission. The borough's unique position with its own power supply could make it particularly attractive to data center developers. State Representative Rob Kauffman underscored the importance of municipalities with existing zoning to proactively tighten their ordinances to ensure data centers are "pigeonholed to a certain area that is most appropriate" and heavily regulated, rather than excluded.
Pat Ryan and Michele Jansen of News Talk 103.7FM highlighted the time-consuming process of public hearings and votes required for such ordinance changes, expressing concern that municipalities might be unprepared. Although a rumor about a Staples warehouse in Antrim Township becoming a data center was debunked by Chris Ardinger, the urgency for clear local regulations remains, drawing parallels to "unintended negative consequences" observed in Northern Virginia due to a lack of specific data center ordinances.