Upper Hanover adopts ordinance to regulate data centers after packed public hearing

Upper Hanover Township's Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 2026-04 on June 9, 2026, creating new zoning regulations and restrictions for data centers following a public hearing attended by roughly 80 members of the public. The board approved the ordinance by a 4-0 vote; Supervisor Ben Fiorito moved for adoption and Dottie Diehl seconded.

Township Solicitor Zachary Sivertsen told the board the ordinance is intended to create regulations and restrictions on data centers and that the public hearing record and exhibits were entered into the record by the solicitor prior to the vote. Public comments at the hearing ranged from calls to ban data centers entirely to requests that the ordinance be made more restrictive to protect the township’s natural resources.

A member of the public asked whether any data center applications had been submitted. Solicitor Sivertsen said that at noon on June 9 the township had received a Conditional Use Zoning Application and a Zoning Validity Challenge Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) Application related to a data center, prompting the hearing and adoption to proceed while review and potential challenge processes are pending.

The board encouraged members of the public to submit written suggestions to Township Manager Anne Klepfer; the adopted ordinance and any submitted comments will be reviewed by the Planning Commission to determine whether additional revisions or implementation steps are warranted. No additional implementation deadlines or permit approvals were specified during the meeting.

The board’s adoption of Ordinance No. 2026-04 closes the hearing phase but not the administrative review process: any conditional-use applications, ZHB proceedings or appeals related to future projects would proceed through the township’s normal land-use and judicial channels.