Mount Carmel Township approves data center ordinance as residents seek additional safeguards
Mount Carmel Township supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance regulating potential data centers in designated industrial and coal reclamation zoning districts. Residents continued urging the township to adopt stronger protections related to noise, environmental impacts, public safety and other concerns.
The Mount Carmel Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a data center zoning ordinance at a public meeting held at Mount Carmel Area Junior/Senior High School. The ordinance permits data centers as conditional uses in the township’s I-1A industrial and S-2 special coal land reclamation districts.
The rules establish requirements for setbacks, noise, environmental studies, public safety and other construction and operating standards. Residents, including Donna Costello, addressed the board and called for additional safeguards against potential noise and environmental impacts as the township prepares for possible future data center development.