Commission advances draft data center ordinance and updates guidance document
The Mifflin County Planning Commission advanced a draft data center ordinance and updated an informational guidance document. The proposed ordinance establishes development standards for data centers, including requirements for building placement, environmental protections, and utility infrastructure, and will be forwarded to the Mifflin County commissioners for consideration. A separate draft ordinance for Granville Township is also under review.
The Mifflin County Planning Commission in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, has taken steps to prepare for potential data center development within the county. On Thursday, the commission advanced a draft data center ordinance and updated a comprehensive guidance document for municipalities.
Planning Director Jim Lettiere explained that the revised Data Center Planning and Guidance Document aims to educate municipal officials and the public on data center specifics, covering economic benefits, environmental impacts, and planning considerations without taking a stance for or against development. The document addresses issues such as energy demand, water use, noise, and emergency services.
The draft data center ordinance, intended for Wayne and Bratton townships and the boroughs of Juniata Terrace, Kistler, McVeytown, and Newton Hamilton, outlines specific standards for data center development. These include requirements for setbacks, height, parking, landscaping, lighting, noise, water use, and environmental protections. It also mandates impact studies and encourages energy-efficient design.
Commission members conditionally approved the ordinance, pending revisions by the county solicitor, before it proceeds to the Mifflin County commissioners for final consideration. Resident Nate Fisher urged the commission to require financial security for decommissioning costs, a point Lettiere acknowledged while awaiting solicitor input. Additionally, Granville Township's draft data center ordinance has been received by the county, with a public hearing scheduled for July 15.