Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Data Centers topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission recommends data‑center ordinance with strict standards to council
Summary
The commission recommended ordinance 26‑0‑4, which would allow data centers only as conditional uses in the Heavy Industrial district and impose minimum lot sizes, setbacks, noise studies, energy‑use plans, closed‑loop cooling (unless superior alternatives shown), and decommissioning financial security; county review and council first reading are pending.
The Planning Commission voted to recommend ordinance 26 0 4, a comprehensive data‑center zoning ordinance that would allow large‑scale data centers only in the Heavy Industrial district as conditional uses and add detailed development standards. Staff (voice 4) outlined requirements that larger facilities be sited on parcels of at least 5 acres, limit principal‑building height to 60 feet, require a 250‑foot setback from property lines and 1,000‑foot separation from residential and other sensitive uses, and mandate pre‑ and post‑construction noise studies including low‑frequency sound analysis.
The ordinance would also require applicants to submit a professionally certified energy‑usage plan describing demand, energy sources, backup power and interconnection status; larger projects would be required to obtain a portion of their power from renewable generation in the PJM regional grid. Closed‑loop cooling is required unless the applicant proves a lesser water/energy alternative; applicants must document adequate water and sewer capacity. The draft also includes plume studies, decommissioning financial security to ensure funds exist for eventual demolition, and public‑meeting and project‑website requirements.
Solicitor Patrick Hitchins (speaker 7) framed the legal context: Pennsylvania law generally requires municipalities to allow lawful uses somewhere and cautioned against writing ordinances that functionally ban a use (de facto exclusion). Hitchins said the draft attempts to strike a balance by permitting data centers where appropriate while providing robust standards, and noted that county planning commission feedback on lot size and setbacks could lead to revisions to avoid legal risk.
The commission discussed notice timing (a 14‑day pre‑meeting requirement in the draft, with concerns about whether that gives the public enough time), energy‑grid interconnection and who pays for upgrades, and whether Norristown has suitably sized parcels. The commission voted to recommend the ordinance move to council for first read and advertisement; county comments are expected before council acts.
