Citizen Portal
Sign In

Commissioners raise concerns about data centers, land loss and impacts on affordable housing

Dauphin County Planning Commission ยท November 4, 2025

Loading...

AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Commissioners discussed regional pressure from data center siting, including loss of manufactured-home parks and agricultural land, water and energy demands, and implications for housing supply and municipal land-use policy. They noted the need for outreach and zoning tools to encourage diverse housing types.

Commissioners used the Nov. 3 meeting to flag growing local concerns about data center siting and its effects on land use and affordable housing.

Commission discussion focused on three linked issues: the large land and water demands of data centers, the tendency for developers to purchase large contiguous tracts (including agricultural land and manufactured-home parks), and the downstream effect on entry-level housing supply. Commissioners said data centers typically generate little vehicular traffic compared with other large land uses but that their electricity and water needs can strain local resources and change land value dynamics.

Members noted a recent case in northeastern Pennsylvania where a community with more than 100 manufactured-housing sites was sold for a data center, forcing displacement of low-cost housing stock. Commissioners discussed limits of local authority, the trade-offs between tax revenue and loss of affordable housing, and the role of county planning assistance and outreach to help municipalities consider zoning adjustments.

Staff and commissioners referenced the recently passed federal Road to Housing Act as part of the national policy context and discussed potential local responses such as targeted municipal workshops, technical assistance, and regional summits to encourage zoning and land-use practices that support a broader range of housing types. Commissioners said the county's Local Planning Assistance program can work with municipalities on ordinances and development review, and noted that aligning county and regional plans can help provide consistent policy guidance.