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Mifflin County adopts data‑center rules as amendment to subdivision and land‑development ordinance
Summary
After a planning‑staff presentation and a public comment urging adoption, the county approved an amendment creating Article 11 (data centers) in the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance to set use criteria, decommissioning and enforcement requirements for data center development in unzoned municipalities.
The Mifflin County Board of Commissioners voted to amend the county Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance to add Article 11, which establishes standards for the construction and decommissioning of data centers in municipalities that use the county ordinance.
Jim Latier, who was introduced to the board to present the amendments, summarized five months of work by planning staff and noted the changes include a definition section, specific‑use criteria, decommissioning provisions, administration and enforcement rules, and an effective‑date provision. "We have been working on this ordinance since March of this year," Latier said, adding the planning commission recommended approval at its June 25 meeting and the county solicitor had no proposed changes.
Latier told the board the measure is a subdivision and land‑development amendment, not a zoning change, and said the draft was advertised in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Code to provide public notice and a hearing. He acknowledged one municipality, Juniata Terrace Borough, had expressed concern about noise and possible effects on historic district status; Latier said he did not believe the noise levels associated with development would damage foundations or masonry facades.
During the public hearing, resident Mike Lieber thanked staff and urged the commissioners to adopt the ordinance as presented while recommending continuous review and coordination with neighboring townships. The board then reconvened the regular meeting and approved the amendment by voice vote. The commissioners and planning staff said they will continue to review and update the ordinance as needed.
