Allentown City Council to Review Amendments to Data Center Zoning Regulations
Allentown City Council will hold a Special Meeting to introduce Bill 52, proposing amendments to the city's Zoning Ordinance for data center use. These amendments aim to strengthen regulations previously adopted through Bill 20, which established specific standards and review processes for data centers.
The Allentown City Council is set to introduce Bill 52 during a special meeting on June 24, 2026, which proposes amendments to the city's Zoning Ordinance governing data center use. These amendments are a result of internal discussions and public comments, intended to reinforce and strengthen regulations previously adopted via Bill 20 on June 17, 2026.
Bill 20 established specific standards and safeguards for data centers, which were previously reviewed under general industrial zoning without dedicated regulations. It introduced a Special Exception review process, involving the Allentown City Planning Commission, the Environmental Advisory Council, and public input, with final consideration by the Zoning Hearing Board. Key provisions included requirements for setbacks, landscaping, environmental studies, water and sewer usage reporting, energy demand planning, and noise studies.
Bill 52 will follow a review process involving the Allentown City Planning Commission and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission before Allentown City Council holds a public hearing for final adoption. It is clarified that neither Bill 20 nor the proposed Bill 52 affects a pending data center application at 2401 Emaus Avenue, which will be reviewed under the prior 2025 zoning code.