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Lycoming commissioners trigger curative amendment to zoning for data centers
Summary
The board voted to start a 180‑day curative amendment under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to add zoning rules for data centers, citing gaps in the county ordinance; the change will be drafted by planning staff and considered by partner municipalities.
Lycoming County commissioners voted to initiate a curative amendment to the county zoning ordinance to address data centers, accessory data centers and similar uses.
Jenny, who introduced Resolution 2026‑16, said the current ordinance (enacted 1999; most recently amended in 2021) "does not provide for appropriate zoning regulations for data centers" and therefore the board declared it substantially invalid to allow a corrective amendment to be drafted.
Under section 609.2 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code the resolution triggers a 180‑day period for the county to prepare and enact a curative amendment. The board directed staff to prepare the amendment and start the required review process; the resolution passed on a motion and voice vote.
Commissioner Mr. Hammons clarified how the county’s process will work for municipalities: county staff handle applications for 19 partner municipalities under county ordinance, while individual municipalities must adopt any county amendment themselves or adopt a version of it. He said Montour Township — which is not part of the county’s partnership — is awaiting guidance and will need to adopt an ordinance if it wishes to follow the county’s approach.
The planning department and the planning commission will meet to draft and review the proposed ordinance; Mr. Hammons announced a Planning Commission meeting to discuss the amendment and encouraged public attendance. The county will follow the statutory notice and review steps required by the Municipalities Planning Code before any regulatory changes take effect.
The board’s action is a procedural step to allow the county to propose specific zoning standards (definitions, permitted uses, siting conditions and health/safety protections) for data centers; the meeting did not adopt any final development approvals or site permits.
