Mifflin County Commissioners approve data center land development ordinance amendment
Mifflin County Commissioners in Pennsylvania have unanimously approved an amendment to their land development ordinance, establishing specific guidelines for data center developments. The new provisions include requirements for sound studies, noise limits, minimum lot sizes, and power-related specifications for municipalities governed by the county's planning ordinance. This decision follows a public hearing where local concerns were voiced.
The Mifflin County Commissioners in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, unanimously approved an amendment to their subdivision and land development ordinance during a recent meeting, establishing new guidelines for data centers. The decision followed a public hearing on Thursday. Jim Lettiere, planning director for Mifflin County, stated that the new ordinance is designed to be legally defensible and not exclusionary, adhering to Pennsylvania law which prohibits municipalities from entirely excluding specific land uses.
The amended ordinance introduces several provisions for data center developers operating in municipalities under the county's planning ordinance, including the Borough of Juniata Terrace and Kistler, Newton Hamilton, Wayne, and Bratton townships. Key requirements include mandatory sound studies with set noise limits, minimum lot sizes, and specific power-related guidelines. The Borough of Juniata Terrace had previously raised concerns about potential noise pollution and impacts on existing structures, particularly regarding its National Historic District designation.
During the public comment period, a resident urged ongoing review and updates to the ordinance, expressing fears of potential loopholes. Mifflin County Commissioner Robert Postal commended the planning department, noting that few counties in Pennsylvania have taken such a proactive approach to regulating data center developments, a topic frequently discussed at the recent County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania conference. The commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the amendment.