Planning Commission to draft data center zoning definition, aims for amendment by year-end

Planning staff told the Scranton Planning Commission that the city will prepare a zoning amendment to define data centers and set criteria for where they may be permitted.

A staff member said the city’s zoning ordinance does not explicitly list data centers as a use and that staff met with the law department to begin drafting a definition, a set of appropriate zones, and specific criteria to evaluate such facilities. The staff member said the effort is intended to be a city-level action and is not currently a multi-municipal project.

Commission members discussed typical site requirements for data centers, including large electrical service, natural gas for backup or on-site generation, and potentially large volumes of cooling water depending on the technology used. One planning commission member offered an experience-based comment about the fiscal effects of data centers, noting that a small agricultural town in Washington state grew its municipal budget after converting farmland to data centers and that the facilities may generate substantial tax revenue even if they do not create large numbers of permanent jobs.

Commissioners also discussed multi-municipal coordination; staff noted a multi-municipal board referenced in prior planning work had not been appointed and that municipalities may choose different approaches depending on local conditions and infrastructure capacity. Staff said they are “shooting to have this amendment done by the end of the year.” No formal vote was taken; the commission directed staff to prepare a draft amendment for consideration at a future meeting.

The discussion emphasized that appropriate zoning for data centers may vary by location because of differing utility capacity and land availability, and that the city will propose definitions, allowable zones, and criteria for review rather than adopt a one-size-fits-all standard.