Penn Township to hold public hearing on proposed data center ordinance
Penn Township plans to hold a public hearing in August for a proposed ordinance to regulate data centers. The township zoning officer is drafting the ordinance, referencing similar regulations from other Pennsylvania municipalities. Residents have voiced concerns and are pushing for strict regulations on data center development.
Penn Township is preparing to hold a public hearing in August for a proposed ordinance aimed at regulating potential data center development within the municipality. The Penn Township Board of Supervisors voted on July 14 to advertise the hearing. Township Zoning Officer Philip Mangis confirmed that a draft of the ordinance is nearly complete, drawing inspiration from existing data center ordinances in other Pennsylvania townships similar to Penn Township.
Despite no specific data center projects being proposed yet, residents have actively voiced concerns during meetings, with some advocating for an outright ban and others demanding stringent regulations. Resident Barbara Chapman suggested that ordinances and zoning rules could be designed to deter developers, emphasizing the need for transparency and opposing non-disclosure agreements between the township and companies. Mangis clarified his role as a zoning officer, stating he must adhere to existing ordinances and regulations rather than dictating what can or cannot be built.