Marple schedules July public hearing on zoning changes for data centers, hookah bars and kennels; approves parking‑lot repair contract

The Marple Township Board of Commissioners voted on May 11 to advertise a July 13 public hearing on proposed zoning amendments that would add definitions and requirements for data centers, data center accessory uses, hookah bars/smoke shops/cigar lounges, and animal kennel/boarding uses in the I‑Light Industrial district.

The motion to direct township officials to schedule and advertise the hearing was introduced by John Lucas and seconded by Bob Nutt; the board approved the direction unanimously. Assistant Manager Joe Celia and Solicitor Adam Matlowski told commissioners the planned amendments will move through the township and county planning commissions in June before the July public hearing.

The board also approved a contract to repair the Paxton Hollow Country Club parking lot. John Lucas moved to award the contract for Paxton Hollow Country Club parking‑lot restoration to Premier Concrete Incorporated of Bridal, Pennsylvania, for $76,340; the motion was seconded and approved, with a single abstention recorded in the minutes. The contract award was listed on the agenda with estimate documentation dated April 28, 2026.

In staff updates earlier in the meeting, Township Engineer Joe Mastronardo reported the phase‑3 Veterans Park trail project is out to bid (bids open May 29) with the manager recommending an award at the June meeting pending Delaware County Conservation District permits; he also said the recent road-program contract (a joint contract with Swarthmore and Springfield) was awarded to Glasgow and will be submitted to PennDOT for liquid fuels approval.

The board directed staff to advertise the zoning public hearing and to proceed with the contract award process for the parking‑lot repair.