Planning commission advances updated data‑center rules, including higher height and tighter operational submissions
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Summary
The commission voted 6–0 to forward proposed amendments to York County’s data‑center performance standards (PC26‑07) that add submission requirements, hazardous‑materials and water protections, a 65 C‑weighted dB noise limit, and permit up to 75‑foot building height in industrial districts; public comment urged stronger energy and water provisions.
The York County Planning Commission voted unanimously on April 8 to forward proposed zoning amendments (resolution PC26‑07) updating performance standards for data centers and to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors.
Staff described the package as a comprehensive update: it would require more detailed letters from electric and water utilities specifying energy sources and projected use by phase; require hazardous‑materials management and stormwater protections; prohibit above‑ground storage of liquefied petroleum gas; add a cap of 65 C‑weighted decibels to address low‑frequency noise; change generator‑testing rules so generators are tested one at a time and used only for commissioning or emergency purposes; and revise setbacks and screening rules while increasing the maximum allowable building height in IL/IG districts to 75 feet to align with existing industrial district allowances.
During questions, commissioners pressed staff on the rationale for the 75‑foot height limit and the chosen five‑year interval for utility confirmations. Staff explained that equipment lifecycles (typically three to five years) make periodic review useful and said the changes are targeted to areas zoned IL/IG, where 75 feet is already an established district limit.
Elizabeth Wilkins, a York County resident, commended the county for taking early action but urged caution on the height increase and asked the commission to strengthen energy‑efficiency and water‑reuse requirements. "A doubling of the height limit would seem to invite a much more massive data center with double the servers, the energy use, the noise," she said, and recommended rooftop solar, on‑site water reclamation and protections for cultural and historic resources.
Commissioners noted the amendments would still route individual projects through the special‑use permit process (with public hearings) and moved to forward PC26‑07 with a recommendation of approval. The motion passed 6–0 on roll call and the package will be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors for final action.
Next steps: PC26‑07 will be placed on a Board of Supervisors agenda for consideration; site‑specific public hearings will be required before any data‑center project may expand electricity or water usage beyond thresholds specified in the ordinance.
