Municipal Monday, Issue 21. A weekly digest of regulatory and development activity from 38 Central Pennsylvania municipalities. In this issue, posted minutes caught up with several items we had reported as pending.
THE PATTERN: Eleven municipalities in four counties have adopted data center ordinances this year, February 11 to September 16. They are Londonderry in Dauphin County, South Londonderry, Franklin in York County, Hampden, Lower Allen, Windsor, West Hanover, South Middleton, Swatara, East Hanover and East Pennsboro. None was added after the September 28 count, and the pending drafts differ. Newberry’s draft Ordinance 442, set for a hearing October 13, would make data centers a conditional use in two industrial districts and limit sound to 50 dBA at any sensitive receptor. North Londonderry’s posted draft would make them a permitted use in its I-1 district, with a 67 dBA daytime limit at the property line. East Pennsboro’s Ordinance 864-2026, adopted September 16, uses conditional use and 60 dBA by day, 50 at night, at the lot line.
ON THE BOARDS: Nine plans carry a board or commission action across four municipalities, on agendas dated September 21 to 30. Four are new to our tracking. Fairview’s September 28 agenda carried five, including a Sheetz plan whose proposed approval is contingent on $1,376,090 in financial security. Susquehanna’s Planning Commission agenda for September 28 listed Creekview Heights, 178 units in four buildings. Windsor listed two subdivisions September 21, and Silver Spring a hearing extension on a recycling facility conditional use. Confirmed: Harrisburg City Council passed all four residential plans we reported September 14, 52 units, each 6 to 0 on September 22.
LONG HORIZON: Six municipalities in three counties have a land or farmland preservation step open. Upper Allen’s Ordinance 850 sends a land preservation referendum to the November 3 ballot. Lower Allen’s Board of Commissioners voted 4 to 0 on September 14 to authorize a survey of about 70 owners of five-acre-plus parcels about a potential township program. Silver Spring has an Agricultural Security Area addition before it, South Middleton’s committee takes up its seven-year review October 6, Warrington in York County formed a committee in August on a proposed addition, outcome unposted, and Reading in Adams County listed land preservation on its October 1 budget agenda.
COST TO WATCH: Minutes posted since Issue 20 confirm $3.18 million in financial security reductions we first reported as requests. Fairview approved $1,487,906 for New View Business Park and $555,278 for Green Lane Meadows Phase 3 on August 31. Lower Allen approved $841,421 for Cedar Run Business Park on September 14, 4 to 0, and $293,679 for a Wawa on August 10, 5 to 0. Silver Spring’s $3.15 million from September 23 had no posted outcome as of October 5.
As of publication on October 5, the adoptions, votes and approvals above are confirmed from minutes or signed or codified records. Everything else is an agenda item, a draft or a notice.
If a draft ordinance or a plan on these agendas touches ground you hold, we can tell you what it means for the specifics.
Municipal Monday runs weekly. Next issue: 10/12.