North Coventry moves toward writing zoning ordinance to deal with data center

North Coventry Township supervisors initiated efforts to develop a new zoning ordinance to specifically address data centers and discussed the potential enactment of a 180-day moratorium. Township Manager Erica Batdorf has been authorized to gather information and collaborate with the township engineer and solicitor to draft the ordinance, which will be presented to the supervisors within two weeks. The proposed moratorium, legally termed a "curative amendment," would allow the township to declare its current zoning deficient and implement necessary changes over 180 days. Supervisors Chairman Bill Soumis noted that while no current data center proposals exist, the township was previously approached about a "boutique" data center on 18 acres. This past proposal faced significant public opposition, leading to the developer's withdrawal and the supervisors' rejection of the idea. State Senator Katie Muth, D-44th Dist., endorsed the concept of a well-timed curative amendment, highlighting its ability to provide the board with crucial time under the state's municipalities' planning code. Resident Suzanne Ercole emphasized the urgency, describing data centers as an "existential threat." Sen. Muth also informed the supervisors about Senate Resolution 211, recently approved, which mandates the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive study of Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code, with data centers explicitly included in the scope. State Senator Judy Schwank, D-11th Dist., the resolution's sponsor, emphasized the need to modernize the code to meet contemporary challenges like the influx of data center proposals.