Allentown City Council amends zoning regulations for data centers
Allentown City Council unanimously voted to amend the data center zoning regulations that were recently put in place. These amendments include new safeguards such as removing data centers as a permitted use in the IG-Industrial General district, increasing setbacks to 500 feet, strengthening noise/vibration standards, and requiring additional public notice. The changes were made in response to public feedback and the recognized need for stronger regulations for data centers.
Allentown City Council unanimously approved amendments to its data center zoning regulations on Wednesday night, a month after the initial regulations were enacted. Council President Santo Napoli highlighted that Bill 52 represents a step in refining the city's standards for data centers, acknowledging them as an "emerging and evolving land use" and indicating that further evaluations may occur.
The amendments introduce several safeguards, including the removal of data centers as a permitted use in the IG-Industrial General zoning district, restricting them solely to the Industrial Manufacturing (IM) district. Additionally, the new regulations increase setback requirements to 500 feet from residential or sensitive land uses, establish decommissioning requirements for sites, enhance noise and vibration standards, and mandate more extensive public notice for proposed data centers.
While Planning Director Jennifer Gomez noted that public feedback often requested 1,000-foot setbacks, the 500-foot distance was deemed the maximum for a legally defensible ordinance. Alicia Ruthrauff of Lehigh Valley Stands Up thanked the council for the amendments, emphasizing the "unprecedented rise" in data center proposals in the Lehigh Valley and concerns about the strain on local power grids and water tables. Councilmember Ce-Ce Gerlach praised the swift legislative action, attributing it to public engagement.