The Penn Forest Township Board of Supervisors held a special meeting Monday night to discuss a proposed zoning ordinance on data centers.

The meeting was moved to Penn’s Peak to accommodate residents. Prior meetings held on the topic at the Penn Forest Fire Company No. 1 were at capacity and people had to be turned away.

The meeting was to “discuss, inform and obtain public comment regarding proposed amendments to zoning ordinance to address data centers.”

Solicitor Thomas Nanovic explained the process of drafting the ordinance and having 180 days to draft it per state law, which would end on March 11,2 026.

Nanovic reiterated, “There may be deficiencies in our zoning ordinance. We don’t have a choice. We can’t refuse to allow it but we can regulate it.”

Tim Hendricks, a current applicant to build a data center at Route 903 and Maury Road, has challenged the ordinance.

Conditional use approval would still be needed.

Nanci Sarcinello, of Sarcinello Planning and GIS service, highlighted 12 areas of the 34-page draft that included defining what a data center is and the ordinance “will protect public health, safety, and welfare.”

Requirements such as water usage, sewage, native species, land use, setbacks, building height, sound and vibrations were addressed.

A line of residents signed up to speak, many starting by thanking the board members for their hard work on the draft.

Topics raised included:

• How the overlay would function.

• Water use and potential impacts.

• How the ordinance would be applied in practice.

• Whether SMRs (small modular reactors) should be addressed proactively in the ordinance.

• When DEP and DRBC compliance would be involved.

Resident Helene Katz expressed concern that her well is shallow and has run dry, and what the impact of water usage may be.

The board noted that water studies are required.

Katz also expressed concerns as she “heard that PPL rates will go up.”

Supervisor Christian Bartulovich responded, “We don’t know if rates are going up. We can’t regulate what PPL charges.”

Linda Christman, from Save Carbon County, asked about water withdrawal and encouraged a close loop system that reuses water. Christman noted, “This was one of the best drafts I read.”

Another resident mentioned concerns about the environmental impact, with risks outweighing the rewards.

Twenty-five year resident Kathleen Schoener said, “I strongly oppose the data centers due to water usage, destruction of habitat, quality of life and sound concerns.”

The supervisors ratified contracting the services from Thornton Acoustics & Vibrations for $155 per hour for sound and vibration studies per the ordinance.

The board also ratified contracting the services from H20 Solutions LLC, a company that provides “ultra pure water systems and services, including system design, building and maintenance,” according to its website.

Penn Forest Township is hoping to have another meeting with residents at the beginning of January.