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Commission backs raising data center height to 80 feet with added setbacks; asks council to review fire‑safety and special‑exception option
Summary
York County Planning Commission recommended a text amendment to raise the maximum building height for data centers to 80 feet with increased side/rear setbacks, approved staff’s draft language and asked staff to report fire‑department ladder capabilities and to present whether special‑exception review should be considered by county council.
The York County Planning Commission on May 12 voted to recommend a text amendment that would raise the maximum permitted height for data centers to 80 feet in certain districts, provided additional side and rear setbacks are added for each foot of height above the district minimum. The commission approved staff’s recommended amendment and asked county staff to provide fire‑department capacity information and to include a recommendation about managing taller data‑center proposals (for example, via a special‑exception process) when the record is forwarded to county council.
Staff explained a pending proposal from QTS, a data‑center provider, that prompted the request: QTS notified the county that new racking and cooling technology requires additional rooftop equipment and vertical clearance that cannot be accommodated by the current 60‑foot maximum in the ID (industrial development) zoning district. Diane (county planning…
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