Ligonier Twp. Planning Commission to pass data center rules onto supervisors
The Ligonier Township Planning Commission unanimously approved a draft of data center guidelines, which will be passed to the township supervisors for a vote next month. The proposed ordinance aims to regulate data center operations by limiting resource use, restricting them to commercial/industrial zones, and setting rules for noise, odor, and generator use. The initiative is proactive, as no data centers are currently planned for the township.
The Ligonier Township Planning Commission, including members Thomas Naugle, Barbara Nalle, Chris Hefner, Sheila Grimm, and Vice Chair Michael McCalpin, met on Thursday to discuss and approve a draft of data center guidelines. Commission member Chris Hefner emphasized the importance of proactively establishing rules, even though no data centers are currently slated for the township.
The proposed ordinance, which was unanimously approved by the commission (Chair Barbara Nalle was absent), will now be sent to the township supervisors for a vote next month. It seeks to limit data centers to commercial or industrial zones and regulate their resource consumption, requiring them to use public electricity, water, and sewage. The draft also includes strict rules regarding generator use, noise levels (not exceeding ambient township levels), and prohibits detectable odor or smoke near neighboring properties. Hefner noted that extensive research and public participation, including a work session where citizen comments helped shape the document, went into the ordinance's development.
Separately, Hefner also announced that Ligonier Borough and Ligonier Township will soon review a joint comprehensive plan, with his personal interest in addressing affordable housing in the updated version.