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Springettsbury considers conditional‑use rules for data centers amid power, noise and siting questions
Summary
Staff proposed treating data centers as conditional uses in industrial and business districts, with standards on facades, equipment screening, lighting, noise and water studies; supervisors debated whether to set district‑level standards, require environmental or electrical standards, or prohibit siting on prime soils.
Springettsbury Township supervisors discussed whether to regulate data centers by creating a standalone district or by treating them as conditional uses in industrial and business zones, with the administration favoring conditional‑use standards for design, noise and water impacts.
Marian said the draft does not create a separate data‑center district but instead adds conditional‑use standards in business, industrial and general industrial districts. The proposed standards would address facade design and screening of mechanical equipment, strengthen lighting and noise controls, and require preparation of a water study for larger facilities. Marian said the draft does not at this time set electrical system standards, require environmental impact assessments, or impose green‑building or solar requirements — items the board could add if desired.
Supervisors raised practical local concerns: whether to prohibit siting on prime agricultural soils, how to distinguish small, building‑level server rooms from larger standalone centers, and the noise and generator impacts of backup power and cooling. One participant framed the public conversation as polarized: "someone of course is out there trying to scare the public into believing they shouldn't be in their community and a lot of the public is resisting that," a supervisor observed, noting neighboring municipalities are drafting ordinances to get ahead of the issue.
Board members asked staff to research model ordinances used by York County municipalities and nearby townships such as Manchester and East Manchester as examples. Staff said the township's limited acreage and proximity to major highways reduce the likelihood of mega‑scale data centers, but cautioned moderate‑sized or repurposed warehouse facilities could be feasible and deserve carefully tailored standards.
No formal action was taken; staff will return with options, including tighter definitions to distinguish small server rooms from larger data‑center operations and potential additional standards on electrical systems and environmental protections.
