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Chester County Council adopts zoning changes to allow and regulate data centers, and advances several other zoning text amendments
Summary
Council approved multiple zoning text amendments, including allowing data centers as conditional uses in the ID-3 district and adding data center design standards; several other text amendments and first readings for rezoning and district rules were also advanced, with a recusal noted on two first readings.
The Chester County Council on June 1 approved a package of zoning ordinance changes and advanced multiple first readings to refine industrial and residential district rules.
On third reading the council approved CCTA26-06, which adds data centers as a conditional use in the ID-3 (General Industrial) district, and CCTA26-07, which adds a new chapter establishing data center design standards. Both items had unanimous Planning Commission support and passed the council 5-0.
Separately, the Planning Commission and council advanced several other zoning text amendments (including CCTA26-04 through CCTA26-05 and CCTA26-08 through CCTA26-13) addressing definitions, RG-2 residential regulations and special exceptions across ID-2 and ID-3 districts. The Planning Commission recommended a modification on CCTA26-04 to set a minimum square footage at 500 square feet. Several of these items were approved on first reading; Vice Chairwoman Erin Mosley recused herself from the council’s consideration of CCTA26-08 and CCTA26-09 first readings.
Why it matters: The changes allow data centers in the county’s general industrial district under specific conditions and create design standards intended to regulate appearance, siting and related infrastructure. The combined amendments refine permitted uses and special exceptions across residential and industrial districts and will affect development review and permitting.
Votes and procedure: The data-center-related amendments passed on 5-0 votes after Planning Commission approval. Multiple other text amendments were advanced on first reading (most with 5-0 council votes); the transcript records Vice Chair Mosley’s recusal on two first-reading entries. Future council meetings will include any required second or third readings and final adoption timelines.
