Public objects as county recommends zoning changes to define data centers; commission clarifies recommendation

County planning staff presented draft zoning overlay amendments intended to define data centers and accessory uses — including backup power generation and cooling infrastructure — and to set performance standards on noise, traffic and energy use. Staff recommended approval of the ordinance language as a means to manage data-center siting and impacts.

During public comment, an attendee (identified in the transcript as Unidentified Speaker 4) strongly objected to how the township supervisors handled the ordinance and argued that the overlay would allow incompatible uses, including large power-generation operations. The speaker said, "I am appalled... You better you better not approve that," and urged the county to "dig in" rather than issue a recommendation that could be taken as project approval.

Commission member Marty (Unidentified Speaker 3) said he supported revising the zoning text but opposed approving county review language that could be misinterpreted as approval of a specific data center. Marty asked that the county explicitly state the recommendation pertains only to the ordinance text and not to any project approval; after discussion the commission revised the recommendation language accordingly and approved the revised language.

County staff repeatedly emphasized the commission’s advisory role: the county reviews and recommends but does not, by itself, approve projects that require municipal approvals and permits. The revised language clarifies the county’s recommendation applies to the ordinance amendments only and does not constitute approval of any particular data center or accessory use.

The commission’s action leaves the zoning amendment to the statutory local-adoption and public-hearing process; the county requested a signed copy of the adopted ordinance be submitted within 30 days of enactment, per the Municipalities Planning Code.