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Penn Forest supervisors discuss amending zoning ordinance to address data centers
Summary
At a Sept. 8 special meeting, Penn Forest Township officials heard from the township solicitor and a land-use planner that the existing zoning ordinance does not explicitly provide for data centers and could leave the township exposed to legal challenges; no formal ordinance amendment was voted on.
At a Sept. 8 special meeting, the Penn Forest Township Board of Supervisors heard discussion about drafting specific zoning rules for data centers. Thomas S. Nanovic, the township solicitor, read a general definition of data centers and said the issue arose during recent ordinance revisions.
Nanci Sarcinello, a professional land use planner who consults with municipalities across Pennsylvania, told the board that Penn Forest’s current zoning ordinance "does not specifically provide for Data Centers and could open up a challenge for the Township," and recommended putting regulations in place to mitigate potential community impacts.
The conversation focused on the need for the ordinance to clearly permit and regulate data centers to avoid uncertainty and possible legal exposure. The minutes record the presentation and advice from legal counsel and the planner but show no motion or vote to change the ordinance at this meeting. Chairman Roger Meckes then opened the public comment period; the minutes note that the floor was opened but do not record any public remarks on the topic.
The board did not take a formal action to amend the zoning ordinance during this meeting. Any next steps for drafting or advertising ordinance language were not specified in the minutes.
