HATBORO, PA — The borough's planning commission has moved forward with an ordinance on data centers.
In a meeting that lasted over two hours and 30 minutes at Borough Hall, the commission discussed an ordinance on data center regulations and then heard public comments about it.
"When I heard about a data center in Hatboro, I almost fell off my couch," Resident Joe Scholl told the board.
Residents asked about the square footage a data center may take up, the number of potential large generators, the noise, the power supply and the impact on the community.
"There's been so much talk about data centers, what's true and what's not," resident Joe Scholl said. "There's a lot of stuff floating around."
He stated that the borough needs to think about the future of its school children and that a data center should be built nowhere near a school.
Following a lengthy discussion among members of the Planning Commission, the Borough Planner, Montgomery County Planning Commission representatives, and residents, the Planning Commission recommended that the proposed ordinance be incorporated into the zoning rewrite.
The recommendation includes allowing data centers in the proposed LMX Zoning District, subject to a maximum building size of 25,000 square feet, setbacks from sensitive receptors, and approval as a conditional use, along with other protective measures.
The ordinance establishes rules and regulations for data centers within the borough to ensure there are standards in place in case the borough receives an application in the future for a data center.
Like many communities throughout the Philadelphia region, governments are setting the stage for guidelines if a data center is proposed.
Borough officials said they have not received an application for a data center at this time.
The draft ordinance details regulations for any possible data center uses including zoning districts where the use would be allowed, minimum property sizes and setbacks, energy requirements, approval/public engagement processes, and other requirements that any proposed data centers must adhere to within the borough.
"It is imperative that the Borough of Hatboro have these zoning requirements in place in the event an application for a data center is submitted to the Borough in the future," officials said.
Anyone with questions or concerns should contact Borough Manager Diane Hegele at 215-443-9100 or by sending an email to dhegele@myhatboro.org.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Hatboro Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.