Planning commission recommends draft data center ordinance to supervisors after resident raises closed-loop water concerns

The West Hanover Township Planning Commission voted on June 25 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt a draft ordinance regulating data centers after hearing public comment and internal discussion.

Resident Paula Walter, of 7453 Moyer Road, urged commissioners to consider recent research on closed-loop water systems used by data centers, saying, “there's been a lot of additional discussion as far as closed loop water systems and what they actually result in and basically ending up being sludge,” and she urged the township to require proof that receiving wastewater systems can handle any additional flow.

Commissioners reviewed written public comments and staff notes, citing specific pages in the draft where wastewater and operational requirements appear. One commissioner said the comments tended toward stricter language and asked whether the township solicitor had reviewed the proposed restrictions to ensure they would not trigger a successful legal challenge. Commissioners agreed staff should seek the solicitor’s input before significant amendments and noted the option to adopt a baseline ordinance now and amend it later if needed.

After discussion, a commissioner moved that the planning commission recommend adoption of the data center ordinance to the Board of Supervisors; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The commission’s action sends the draft ordinance to the Board of Supervisors for consideration; the transcript records the vote as passed by voice but does not provide a named roll-call tally. The draft remained in the public-comment period at the time of the meeting.

The commission had no further public comments and adjourned the meeting.