Municipal Monday, Issue 23. A weekly digest of regulatory and development activity from 38 Central Pennsylvania municipalities. In this issue, September minutes keep arriving.
THE PATTERN: Eleven municipalities in four counties have adopted data center ordinances this year, February 11 to September 16: 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 our October 12 issue. Newberry listed an adoption vote on Ordinance 442 for October 13; the outcome had not been posted as of October 19. Reading Township’s October 19 agenda lists setting a hearing date, and Upper Allen’s amendment returns to its Planning Commission October 26. Camp Hill committee minutes describe proposed standards making data centers a conditional use, with a 150-foot setback toward residential development in the neighboring township and a five-acre minimum lot. Lower Swatara and North Londonderry have drafts before their Planning Commissions.
ON THE BOARDS: Eighteen plans carry a board or commission action across six municipalities, on agendas dated October 13 to November 3. Four are new to our tracking. South Middleton’s Planning Commission listed eleven for October 15, eight of them to be tabled, including the 406-unit Heritage Village Phase I. North Middleton lists Lehman’s Landing Phase 3, 57 townhomes, and the Alexander Spring preliminary plan for October 20, after listing a time extension October 15. Harrisburg listed a 38-unit office conversion at 110 and 112 North 2nd Street. Derry, North Londonderry and East Hanover listed one each.
LONG HORIZON: Seven municipalities took a new step on a rezoning, plan or zoning amendment. Lower Swatara posted notice of a November 4 hearing on rezoning about 3.56 acres from Industrial to Commercial Highway. Lower Allen listed a request to rezone the former BJ’s site on Hartzdale Drive to General Industrial. Camp Hill listed a $64,490 comprehensive plan contract, and Newberry’s solar ordinance, also listed for adoption October 13, would add a Solar Energy Overlay District. Derry has a medical marijuana zoning hearing October 27, North Middleton listed a hearing on nursing and personal care facilities, and East Hanover’s agritourism amendment remains pending.
COST TO WATCH: Minutes posted since Issue 22 confirm $4,201,693.70 in financial security releases and reductions. Carroll released $4,049,874.70 of the surety on the Lefever Property land development September 14, based on observed work completed, with one supervisor voting no. Lower Swatara reduced Greenwood Hills Phase IV security by $144,640 to zero, and Derry released $7,179 at two properties. Silver Spring’s $3.15 million from September 23 still had no posted outcome as of October 19.
As of publication on October 19, 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: 10/26.