Pequea supervisors vote to forward draft of data center ordinance to planning commissions

Pequea Township supervisors in Pennsylvania unanimously voted on April 15 to forward a draft data center ordinance to both the township and Lancaster County planning commissions. The proposed ordinance seeks to clearly define data centers and their appropriate locations within the municipality, allowing the township to better manage potential developments. Mark Deimler, the zoning officer for Solanco Engineering, emphasized the ordinance's purpose as a protective measure against the impacts of data centers, such as noise, vibrations, water usage, and strain on infrastructure and residents. Under the draft guidelines, data centers in Pequea Township would be permitted in commercial and industrial zones only by conditional use, requiring developers to undergo a hearing with the Board of Supervisors for impact assessment and compliance review. Supervisor Jeff Kreider noted that the Lancaster Inter-Municipal Council generally recommends locating data centers on industrial land. Vice Chair Tom Haas raised concerns about potential federal or state regulations, to which Deimler responded that the local ordinance would be revised to comply with any conflicting higher-level laws. Chair Harry Lehman indicated that after receiving feedback from both planning commissions, a public hearing would be scheduled to enact the ordinance, with the process potentially concluding by the end of the summer. The supervisors aim to have this ordinance in place to protect the township should a data center developer propose a project in the area.