It was a full house Tuesday night at Penn’s Peak for a meeting for Penn Forest Township‘s proposed zoning ordinance amendment regarding data centers.

Two previous meetings were held at the site to review the updated ordinance and allow residents to give input and ask questions.

The 45-page draft ordinance was has been submitted to the County Planning Commission and Township Planning Commission and requires a 30-day comment period.

A zoning map indicates the data center overlay district on a draft map of 750 acres along Route 903 near Maury Road. Data centers would be permitted by conditional use in the area.

Nanci Sarcinello, of Sarcinello Planning and GIS Services explained additional updates and changes to the draft.

Area of Influence (AOI) has been added, which requires a water feasibility study, and well withdrawal information as well as the impact on aquifer. Property owners within 3,000 feet from the use or within the area of influence need to have their well tested if a claim is needed in the future.

The maximum height of the data center was increased to 60 feet, with an additional 15 feet for roof mounted equipment. An emergency management plan and decommissioning plan must be in place.

Setbacks are required to be 1,000 feet.

An addition to the ordinance is that 100 feet of a vegetative buffer is required and clear cutting is prohibited. Standards for air quality, light and glare, waste disposal and noise limits were adjusted.

Residents expressed concern about the effect on wildlife and noted several endangered species are being verified on the proposed site.

Mike Gogol asked who pays for the water testing and why the original height in the ordinance was changed.

Supervisor Christian Bartulovich responded, “We have to make an ordinance that is defensible.”

President of Save Carbon County, Linda Christman, stated, “The supervisors did a good job with the draft ordinance, but this is not a good site for a data center.”

That led to loud applause.

The supervisors will make a decision about passing the ordinance on March 2 at the regular township meeting to be held at 6 p.m. at Penn’s Peak.