Jenkins Twp. holds hearing on data center ordinance

The Jenkins Township Board of Supervisors convened a public hearing to consider a proposed amendment to the township’s zoning ordinance, specifically targeting the regulation of data centers and their accessory uses. Tom Shepstone, president of Shepstone Zoning and Management Group, the firm hired to draft the amendment, provided an overview of data centers and the proposed regulations to the board and attending residents. Board solicitor Joseph Blazosek clarified that the amendment's purpose is to legally recognize data centers as a permitted use within the township, a requirement for municipalities to avoid potential legal challenges. The proposed ordinance restricts data centers to an overlay district within the I-2 Flex Industrial District, allowing them only as a conditional use subject to extensive review by the township planning commission and final approval by the supervisors. Key provisions of the ordinance include a minimum lot size of 25 acres, a maximum building coverage of 75%, height limits of three stories, and significant setbacks from residential properties. A central requirement is a comprehensive community and fiscal impact analysis, which must assess the short-term and long-term environmental, economic, and social effects on Jenkins Township, including its institutions and emergency services. Developers would be responsible for covering the costs of experts and potentially paying community impact fees to mitigate effects on water, sewer, and firefighting capabilities. Strict sound regulations and emergency plans coordinated with local fire departments are also mandated. During the hearing, residents and the Jenkins Township Planning Commission offered feedback. The Planning Commission recommended stricter rules on utility supply (power and water), increased residential setbacks, and the mandatory imposition of water loop systems for conservation. Residents, including Morgan Steiner and Dino Rodeghiero, specifically questioned the possibility of requiring closed-loop water systems and measures to mitigate air pollution, with Shepstone indicating these could be further reviewed.