East Marlborough Data Center Rules Head Toward Oct. 14 Vote
East Marlborough Township in Pennsylvania is preparing to vote on a comprehensive data center zoning ordinance on October 14. The proposed regulations aim to establish strict limits on electricity, water usage, noise levels, and emissions for future data center developments. This proactive measure seeks to set clear standards before any specific data center applications are submitted to the township.
East Marlborough Township, Pennsylvania, is set to vote on a new 24-page data center zoning ordinance on October 14. The proposed regulations would allow data centers as conditional uses within the Limited Industrial District, granting the Board of Supervisors the authority to evaluate individual projects against the new standards. The township has not yet received any specific data center applications.
The draft ordinance includes several restrictions, such as requiring a minimum of five acres for buildings up to 100,000 square feet and 10 acres for larger facilities, with structures limited to 35 feet in height. Data centers would also need to be set back at least 500 feet from residential areas, schools, parks, and preserved land.
Key provisions address environmental and resource concerns, including maximum noise levels of 45 dBA during the day and 40 dBA at night/weekends. Backup generators would be required to meet Tier 4 emissions standards and operate no more than 20 hours annually. Furthermore, applicants would need to provide detailed utility studies for electricity demand, demonstrate no adverse impact on local electricity rates for five years, and ensure sufficient public water capacity without using groundwater or direct surface water for cooling.
The township emphasizes that this ordinance is a proactive step to establish development standards prior to receiving any applications, aiming to protect the municipality while ensuring legally defensible regulations. The Planning Commission has reviewed multiple drafts, and the Board of Supervisors authorized the advertisement of the ordinance on August 12.