Chester County Council to take final vote on 6-month data center moratorium
Chester County Council is scheduled to take a final vote on a six-month moratorium on new data center applications. This pause will allow the county to further study the impacts of data centers and build upon existing zoning regulations. Residents support the study but seek transparency regarding the information and public involvement.
Chester County Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and a third and final vote on a proposed six-month moratorium on new data center applications. This move follows the recent passing of some data center zoning regulations, which established rules regarding development, including setbacks from homes, landscaped barriers, noise limits, and water efficiency improvements. The Council aims to further refine these regulations during the moratorium period.
If the moratorium is enacted, the county plans to host public workshops on August 13th and September 28th. These workshops will feature experts discussing critical issues such as energy and water resource use, environmental impacts, and the economic contributions of data centers to Chester County.
During the previous Chester County Council meeting on July 6th, the second reading of the moratorium passed amidst public comment. Many residents continue to express dissatisfaction with data centers in the county. While they support the council's decision to study the issue, they are seeking greater transparency regarding the sources of information, research methodologies, and opportunities for public involvement in the process.