New Britain Township starts 6-month process to regulate data centers
New Britain Township supervisors have initiated a six-month process to develop zoning regulations for data centers. This "curative amendment" aims to define where data centers can be located and control their impacts, proactively preventing potential legal challenges to their zoning ordinance. No specific data center project is currently proposed for the township.
New Britain Township supervisors in Pennsylvania have unanimously initiated a municipal curative amendment to develop comprehensive zoning regulations for data centers. The resolution declares the township's current zoning ordinance substantively invalid because it lacks specific provisions for data centers, which could leave the township vulnerable to legal challenges from developers.
Township Solicitor Randy Flager explained that this action provides a six-month protective period during which developers cannot challenge the existing ordinance. This time will be used to research and draft new regulations addressing data center location, size, and secondary impacts such as electrical demand, water consumption, noise, and environmental effects. The proposed provisions will undergo review by the Planning Commission in public meetings before being presented to the supervisors for consideration.
Officials emphasized that this proactive measure is not in response to any pending application or discussions with a developer. A resident, Christie, inquired if any data center plans were being considered, to which officials confirmed no such proposal exists. Similar curative amendment proceedings are underway in several other municipalities as local governments seek to manage the potential impacts of large data center developments. The resolution itself does not approve or permanently prohibit a data center but aims to protect the township's zoning integrity by preparing legally defensible regulations.