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Charlestown supervisors adopt data-center zoning amendment, approve multiple land-use actions
Summary
At their April 6 meeting the Charlestown Township Board adopted Ordinance 230-26 permitting data centers by conditional use in I/O/B zones, approved two conditional-use applications and a minor subdivision, accepted PennDOT right-of-way offers and authorized bids for building remediation and Swiss Pines work.
Charlestown Township supervisors on April 6 adopted Ordinance 230-26 to permit data center facilities by conditional use in the township's Industrial/Office/Business (I/O/B) zoning districts and approved several land-use and administrative measures.
The Board of Supervisors, meeting at the Charlestown Township Municipal Building, voted unanimously to adopt the zoning amendment after a public hearing on the proposal. The Board also approved conditional use applications for a conversion at 31 General Warren Boulevard by Jason Owens/King Investment Properties and for a greenhouse proposed by Frank D. Hendrickson III. Both conditional-use approvals were passed subject to standard review procedures; the Board noted it has 45 days to issue written decisions on those hearings.
Why it matters: The ordinance change creates a path for data center development in parts of the township subject to conditional-use review rather than a general prohibition. Residents who commented at the hearing raised environmental and public-notice concerns that officials said are governed by other agencies and by the reviewing jurisdiction.
The meeting included several other formal votes. The Board accepted two PennDOT offers to purchase small additional rights-of-way related to the Pickering Dam Road bridge project (offers of $8,500 and $5,700) and authorized the Township Manager to execute the required paperwork. The Board approved a minor subdivision to adjust lot lines for Kevin and Candace Gordon, and authorized the Manager to solicit bids to remove drywall containing asbestos from two vacant Swiss Lane houses (a previous estimate for drywall removal was $26,400 per house, with drywall replacement and painting estimated at $15,000–$20,000 per house). The Board also authorized solicitation of proposals for bamboo removal and an arborist tree survey at Swiss Pines.
Votes at a glance: - Adoption of Ordinance 230-26 (amending Chapter 27 to permit data centers by conditional use): passed unanimously (Kuhn, Carlson, Green, Philips, Willig — yes). - Conditional use approval, 31 General Warren Boulevard (Jason Owens/King Investment Properties): passed unanimously. - Conditional use approval, greenhouse (Frank D. Hendrickson III), subject to consultants' review: passed unanimously. - Minor subdivision approval, Gordon lot-line adjustment: passed unanimously. - Acceptance of PennDOT right-of-way offers ($8,500 and $5,700): passed unanimously. - Authorization to solicit formal bids for drywall removal at Swiss Lane houses: passed unanimously. - Authorization to solicit proposals for Swiss Pines bamboo removal and tree survey: passed unanimously. - Direction to Manager to post East Whiteland Township data-center application materials link on Charlestown website: passed unanimously. - Request to send letter opposing PA House Bills 2185 & 2186: motion made; Board noted an earlier resolution opposing these bills.
Board and staff said routine approvals (minutes, treasurer's report, accounts payable, and monthly reports) were handled at the start of the meeting by unanimous consent. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.; the next regular meeting is scheduled for May 4, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
