Scranton still working on creating regulations for data centers, kratom
Scranton City Council is actively working on creating new zoning regulations for data centers, including definitions, conditional use standards, and requirements for power systems and impact studies. These proposed ordinances have been tabled for further review and public input to ensure they can withstand potential legal challenges. The council is aiming for potential enactment or rejection by September.
Scranton City Council continues to develop regulations for data centers and kratom within the city, with ordinances first introduced in March. The proposed data center legislation aims to amend the city's 2023 zoning ordinance to define various types of data centers—including hyperscale, moderate, and micro-scale—and establish parameters for conditional uses and special exceptions. These regulations would address lot and building dimensions, the deployment of operational and backup electric systems, emergency management protocols, and required impact studies.
Additionally, the council is considering creating a "Technology and Energy Overlay" district with specific requirements for building standards, landscaping, and operational plans. Both sets of data center ordinances were introduced by Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti's administration and have been tabled since their introduction to allow for public input and ensure they can withstand potential legal challenges. Council President Tom Schuster noted that similar state legislation is also under consideration.
The ordinances remain tabled and are not expected to be brought up for enactment or rejection until September, as officials work to refine the language. While applications for data centers have proliferated in the broader Lackawanna County, none have been proposed specifically within Scranton city limits, indicating a proactive regulatory effort on the part of the city.