Murrysville planning commission will tackle data center regulations

The Murrysville Planning Commission is taking proactive steps to establish new zoning regulations specifically for data centers, even though no companies have yet officially proposed such a facility within the municipality. Chief administrator Michael Nestico highlighted that current zoning ordinances do not explicitly categorize data centers, creating uncertainty. Murrysville officials, including the municipal council, aim to prevent potential issues like those seen in neighboring communities, such as Upper Burrell, where residents have raised concerns about power usage and noise related to data center construction by companies like TECfusions. By adopting a clear ordinance now, Murrysville seeks to avoid waiting for a proposal to come forward before establishing standards. The planning commission is scheduled to address this topic as part of its May 12 meeting agenda, with the goal of enacting an ordinance that clearly defines the specific use and guidelines for data centers within Murrysville.