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Planning commission recommends approval of 'data centers' zoning draft with sound‑management clarifications
Summary
The commission voted 4‑0 to recommend the adoption of a 16‑page draft ordinance that would define and regulate data centers (including cryptocurrency mining and server farms), subject to clarifying language on sound screening and other technical points.
East Allen Township planning staff presented a 16‑page draft zoning amendment to define and regulate "data centers," a land use that the draft describes as buildings primarily occupied by computers, telecommunications and related equipment for digital processing, storage and transfer.
Key provisions in the draft include a 10‑acre minimum lot size, a maximum building height of 50 feet, required public water and sewer, sound‑sensitivity definitions and post‑development sound monitoring, requirements for cooling systems and emissions control, dust and light controls, and fire‑protection and emergency‑management planning. Staff said the draft also explicitly includes cryptocurrency mining, blockchain transaction processing and server farms within the definition for clarity.
Commissioners asked staff to clarify some wording in the screening and sound‑mitigation section—specifically that a double evergreen landscape screen be required in addition to any required wall or fence where mechanical enclosure is not sufficient. The planner agreed to revise the language to make that relationship explicit.
Following the discussion and minor clarifying changes, the commission voted to recommend approval of the draft with the suggested clarifications and comments. The motion passed 4‑0. The recommendation and staff annotations will go to the Board of Supervisors for a hearing and final action.
