Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Upper Providence board authorizes advertisement of draft data‑center ordinance adapted from county model
Summary
The board voted to advertise a draft data‑center ordinance that would limit large‑scale data centers while permitting smaller, business‑associated facilities in certain industrial districts; the draft requires conditional‑use review and impact studies for large operations.
The Upper Providence Board of Supervisors voted on April 27 to advertise a draft ordinance regulating data centers, using model language adapted from Montgomery and Chester counties.
Staff said the ordinance would allow small data centers associated with existing businesses (for example, company‑run facilities) in select industrial districts but would limit large, standalone data centers and make them conditional uses subject to impact studies, monitoring and other post‑construction requirements. "It doesn't preclude data centers from the township...it does allow them in certain areas," staff said, explaining the draft also aims to avoid creating a data‑center district and to put standards in place to reduce the township's exposure to curative amendment challenges.
The board voted to advertise the draft ordinance and to authorize county application; a public hearing and a potential adoption vote are expected in 30–60 days. Members emphasized the ordinance will require substantial impact studies and monitoring if a large data center is proposed and said it would come before the board as a conditional use rather than as a right in most cases.
The advertisement step begins the public review process and allows the township to gather comments and to refine standards on size, location, and post‑construction monitoring before returning to the board for a hearing and final action.
