Lehigh Valley community becomes latest to pass data center ordinance, ahead of review of farmland rezoning request
Lower Mount Bethel Township supervisors unanimously passed a data center ordinance, establishing regulations ahead of a formal rezoning request for a hyperscale data center campus. The ordinance addresses environmental impacts, utility infrastructure, and mandates closed-loop cooling systems, reflecting strong resident opposition and a desire to proactively regulate development.
Lower Mount Bethel Township supervisors in Pennsylvania unanimously passed a new data center ordinance on Monday, setting regulatory standards in anticipation of a formal rezoning request for a hyperscale data center campus. The decision came after Supervisor Eric Richards urged the board to act promptly, stating the township currently had no regulations if a proposal were submitted immediately.
Township solicitor Jason Ulrich clarified that while no formal proposal has been received, the ordinance establishes foundational rules for data center development. He noted that future amendments could be made, but would require additional public hearings and reviews by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. The ordinance was passed amidst significant public pressure from a coalition of residents, led by Todd Rehrig, who have actively opposed the proposed campus and advocated for stricter regulations.
The proposed data center project, envisioned by a development team including Talen Energy, Peron Development, and J.G. Petrucci Company Inc., initially presented plans for a 1.2 gigawatt, $5 billion campus in April. Although these plans have been scaled back, developers are still pursuing the rezoning of approximately 240 acres of agricultural land. This rezoning request has been referred to the township’s planning commission, which is expected to discuss it at its October 20 meeting. The final decision on the zoning map change rests with the supervisors, who will consider feedback from both township and regional planning bodies.
The new ordinance classifies data centers as a conditional use within industrial districts, requiring supervisor approval. It mandates standards for environmental impacts, including noise, setbacks, buffering, stormwater management, traffic, emergency access, and utility infrastructure. Developers must disclose the end user and total electrical demand, complete an environmental impact assessment, and are required to use closed-loop cooling systems to minimize water usage.