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East Vincent launches review of data-center rules after residents raise noise, water and safety concerns
Summary
Township staff presented a draft framework to craft a data-center ordinance for the IMU district and sent it to the Planning Commission for public review; residents urged strict setbacks, conditional use requirements, noise limits, air-quality safeguards and review of water and emergency-response impacts.
The East Vincent Board of Supervisors opened a discussion and directed staff to present a draft framework for a data-center ordinance to the Planning Commission for detailed review and public input. Staff emphasized the document is an initial framework, not an adoption-ready ordinance, and that the next step is Planning Commission review and public hearings.
Township officials said the objective is to be proactive and to avoid surprises if a property owner seeks to site a data center in the IMU (industrial mixed-use) district. The solicitor noted the draft draws on ordinances from other municipalities and will be refined with Planning Commission, EAC (Environmental Advisory Council) and public feedback.
Residents urged aggressive protections. Rachel Griffith, vice chair of the Planning Commission, suggested the board consider setbacks from residences (she cited 400 feet as an example used in other communities), sound walls and façade treatments for sites near homes. "There27s a lot to think about — setbacks, noise abatement and facades," Griffith said.
Longtime resident Larry Shank encouraged board and staff to tour existing facilities (he cited a Collegeville data center) to see fuel-storage practices, on-site generators and battery banks. He warned of hazardous-material challenges and firefighting complexity at these facilities.
Other commenters and board members asked that staff assess particulate-matter and air-quality baselines, water withdrawal and wastewater impacts, traffic and the adequacy of the township27s existing noise ordinance.
The board said it will circulate the draft to the Planning Commission and relevant committees, and post materials online; staff also said they have begun lining up outside engineering and environmental consultants who could support technical review if an application arrives. No vote or amendment to the zoning code was taken; the matter will advance through the Planning Commission process.
