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Oakmont Planning Commission discusses a short, targeted zoning rule for data centers
Summary
At its October meeting the Oakmont Borough Planning Commission reviewed a model data-center ordinance and agreed to ask the solicitor to draft a pared-down, Oakmont-specific special-exception standard to protect the borough if small or large server facilities ever seek to locate there.
At its October meeting the Oakmont Borough Planning Commission discussed whether to adopt a short zoning rule to address the unlikely but possible arrival of data centers or server farms in Oakmont.
“Most of these data centers are extremely large facilities that take tens of acres,” said Tony Rossi, a commission member, adding that because of power, fiber and cooling needs “the probability [a hyperscale data center] ever decided to locate in Oakmont is virtually zero.” Rossi said smaller server uses are possible but distinct from hyperscale projects.
Solicitor Jake Leland reviewed a model ordinance prepared by a Pennsylvania nonprofit that defines “data center” and “data center accessory use” and covers where such facilities could be permitted, dimensional standards, buffers, screening, noise, and water/sewer. Leland recommended treating data centers as a special exception requiring review by the zoning hearing board rather than permitting them by right.
Commissioners discussed that some existing large buildings (for example, portions of the old mall or an industrial building on Plum Street) could be repurposed for server use if fiber and power access exist, but those convertions differ from the million‑square‑foot hyperscale facilities that require tens of acres and bespoke power sources.
Members raised public-safety questions including backup power and battery storage, emergency response and fire suppression. Leland noted the special-exception process typically triggers review by the fire department and building officials, and cautioned that requiring a full emergency-response plan in a zoning ordinance could be outside traditional zoning authority.
The commission asked Leland to draft a shorter, Oakmont-specific ordinance that focuses on a clear definition and a special-exception path aligned with existing industrial dimensional standards, and to present that draft at the next meeting for review.
Next step: the commission expects to review the solicitor’s pared-down draft ordinance at the following month’s meeting.
