Municipal Monday, Issue 13. A weekly digest of regulatory and development activity from 32 Central Pennsylvania municipalities.
THE PATTERN: For three months the data center story in this region has been an ordinance story. This week it became a plan-approval story in one township and a blank page in another. Middlesex Township’s August 5 agenda carried three Pennsylvania Digital (PAX-1) items: a preliminary plan for Phase 3, a final plan for Phase 1-B, and a PA DEP Sewage Facilities Planning Module with Component 3. All three print an action deadline of August 5, the night of the meeting itself. Under the Planning Code a board in that position either acts, takes an extension on the record, or the plans approve by operation of law. The module covers new sewage collection, conveyance and treatment facilities, and names no receiving plant. Whether this campus loads an existing plant or builds its own is worth asking now. Meanwhile Lower Swatara took up a motion to have its Planning Commission draft one from scratch, and East Hanover in Dauphin County continued a rewrite carrying data center, agritourism and short-term rental amendments.
Correction to Issue 12: we reported the South Hanover Data Center Overlay hearing as set for August 11. It is not on the posted agenda. We are confirming with the township.
ON THE BOARDS: No new residential subdivision was filed on any agenda posted this week, though ten municipalities carried subdivision or land development items. South Hanover has McKinney at 41 Hanshue Road on August 11, seeking a public sewer connection waiver. Carroll in York County had a minor final subdivision at 235 Camp Ground Road, and Monaghan’s E. Mt Airy Road plan is set to be tabled pending county comments. Londonderry carried a lot add-on final plat and Lower Paxton a cemetery subdivision.
Two weeks ago a single Susquehanna Planning Commission agenda carried at least 378 dwelling units and lots, 170 of them tabled that night. One quiet week is not a trend, especially when only 15 of the 32 posted anything.
LONG HORIZON: Four municipalities have ordinance and plan work in motion. Swatara took a Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and zoning text amendment to hearing August 5. East Hanover is moving its zoning ordinance, map and land development ordinance together. Conewago took up a digitized zoning map and comprehensive plan discussion, Upper Allen the final draft of a Land Preservation Referendum ordinance.
COST TO WATCH: Six municipalities are already into the 2027 budget. Silver Spring presents August 11 and 12, and Upper Allen, South Hanover, Camp Hill, Windsor and South Londonderry have 2027 schedules on their agendas. Fee schedules and escrow rates ride this cycle, so what a project pays in 2027 is being drafted now.
If you hold ground in these townships, especially where the sewer answer or a pending rewrite touches your site, we are glad to walk you through what this week means.
Municipal Monday runs weekly. Next issue: 8/17.