South Annville Township didn't wait for a data center developer to show up before writing the rules.
Township supervisors in Lebanon County unanimously approved Ordinance #10-14-26 on Oct. 14, a zoning ordinance regulating data centers, LebTown reported. Supervisors said they wanted rules on the books before another data center project is proposed.
"Not going to be able to put together a perfect ordinance"
Board chairman Dale Hoover was frank about the limits of the new rules.
"We have many changing regulations on … data centers. We're not going to be able to put together a perfect ordinance here. We have the opportunity to go back and look at it down the road," Hoover said, according to LebTown.
Supervisors told residents they would "absolutely" be open to amending the ordinance in the future.
What residents won and didn't win
Resident Michael Schroeder thanked supervisors for adding two items he had asked for: a decommissioning plan and a community benefits agreement, LebTown reported.
He disagreed with the board's decision not to push setbacks from residential areas to 1,000 feet. He also wanted lower sound limits: 45 decibels during the day and 40 decibels at night and on weekends.
The township planning commission had made some similar recommendations. Commission chairman Gordon Sheetz relayed suggestions to increase residential setbacks to 1,000 feet and to lower limits to 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night and on weekends, according to LebTown. The planning commission also recommended that any proposed data center specify how much water it would use and comply with the Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development standards from Gov. Josh Shapiro's Aug. 18 executive order.
Vice chairman John Harrell said the board leaned on township solicitor Josele Cleary.
"We are as strict as what she feels … without having litigation issues," Harrell said, according to LebTown.
Dumpsters on township streets
In a separate move that will matter to anyone running a job site in the township, supervisors unanimously authorized township manager Jeanette Henning to have Cleary draft an ordinance requiring a permit, a small filing fee and insurance coverage to place dumpsters on streets.
Police Chief Chuck Beard II suggested the rule to reduce the township's liability and give it control over when and where dumpsters are placed, LebTown reported. The ordinance still has to be drafted and adopted. No fee amount was reported.
Other road work on the horizon
Supervisors also talked about the 2027 budget, which could include line painting on most township roads and other road projects, such as possibly widening South Mount Pleasant Road. They approved a traffic signal maintenance agreement with PennDOT and a study of signal timing at U.S. Route 422 and Killinger Road/Clear Spring Road, requested in connection with a proposed retail center in North Londonderry Township.
The township also bought a Kubota SSV75 skid loader through COSTARS for $59,964.21, the lowest of three quotes, for winter maintenance.
Part of a statewide pattern
Small townships across Pennsylvania are writing data center rules as developers look for land and power. Setbacks, noise limits, water disclosure and decommissioning requirements are becoming standard topics. Township officials often say they are balancing those protections against the risk of a legal challenge from a developer.
Why it matters for contractors
Data centers are some of the biggest construction jobs around, but they can't be built without zoning rules that say where and how. South Annville now has those rules. For site work, electrical and general contractors in Lebanon County, that means a clearer path if a developer does come forward, along with known requirements on setbacks, noise and decommissioning.
Because supervisors said they're open to tightening the rules later, the details could change. Contractors and developers eyeing the area should check the current ordinance before planning any bids.
The dumpster ordinance is smaller news but closer to home for remodelers and roofers. If it passes, putting a roll-off on a township street will likely mean pulling a permit, paying a fee and showing insurance. Plan for that on future jobs in South Annville.