Township takes first steps towards data center ordinance
Butler Township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, is actively drafting a new, comprehensive zoning ordinance for data centers. This effort follows the invalidation of their previous zoning rules and the enactment of a 180-day moratorium on new data center applications. The township is drawing on resources from Luzerne County and Governor Shapiro's GRID plan, with community members also providing input.
Butler Township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, is actively developing a new zoning ordinance to regulate data center development. This initiative comes after the township's board of supervisors invalidated their old zoning ordinance, which lacked definitions for data centers, and subsequently enacted a 180-day moratorium on new data center applications.
The pause, implemented via a strategic "curative amendment," provides the planning board time to draft comprehensive new regulations. Sean Logsdon, solicitor for Butler Township, noted the invaluable assistance from a recently passed Luzerne County ordinance and Governor Shapiro's statewide GRID plan in this drafting process.
Community members are also involved, with one resident, Pete Oster, submitting his own proposal for consideration. Township leaders aim to finalize the plan before the 180-day moratorium expires, with a draft expected to be released to the public one week before the planning commission's next meeting in July.