Municipal Monday, Issue 24. A weekly digest of regulatory and development activity from 38 Central Pennsylvania municipalities. In this issue, the data center count holds at eleven while late-October agendas fill with plans and rezonings.
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 19 issue, and Newberry’s October 13 adoption vote on Ordinance 442 still had no posted outcome as of October 26. Conewago’s Planning Commission lists direction to its engineers and solicitor on developing an ordinance for October 26, when Upper Allen’s amendment returns to its Planning Commission. Lower Swatara’s Planning Commission meets on its draft October 29. Reading Township, North Londonderry and Washington Township in York County listed data center items for October 19; minutes had not been posted as of October 26.
ON THE BOARDS: Fifteen plans carry a board or commission action across nine municipalities, on agendas dated October 19 to 26. Seven are new to our tracking. Windsor listed a final plan for a community solar system on Mt. Pisgah Road and a three-lot subdivision. Lower Swatara listed an extended-stay hotel on Rosedale Avenue with five waivers and a deferral, and a 90-day extension for the Ovoliquid plan. Carroll’s Planning Commission listed a Northern Middle School land development plan and a conditional use application. Lower Paxton listed a Zen Leaf dispensary conditional use hearing and a subdivision. Upper Allen listed two time extensions and Washington Township in Franklin County two final plans. Carlisle, Conewago and East Pennsboro listed one each.
LONG HORIZON: Six rezonings and zoning amendments are moving, three confirmed in newly posted minutes. Susquehanna’s September 24 minutes show a unanimous vote to advertise a November 12 hearing on the Linglestown Road Overlay, now covering 17 properties, and a referral of a revised “family” definition. Washington Township in Franklin County listed a rezoning hearing on Eigenbrode Lane with a matching comprehensive plan amendment. Carlisle’s Planning Commission listed rezoning 2.9 acres at 101 Noble Boulevard from shopping center/mixed use to institutional. Londonderry listed advertising a December 7 hearing on the Indian Rock rezoning petition, and Lower Swatara’s minutes confirm its November 4 rezoning hearing.
COST TO WATCH: Minutes posted since Issue 23 confirm $38,190.20 in security releases and reductions. West Hanover approved two security adjustments on stormwater plans totaling $33,260 on September 17, and Upper Allen released $4,930.20 on August 19. Lower Swatara listed a $2,489,847 reduction for Stone Creek Meadows Phase 1 for October 21; the outcome had not been posted as of October 26.
As of publication on October 26, 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: 11/2.