A public hearing on an amended zoning ordinance that would regulate where data centers and warehouses could locate in part of the area will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Tamaqua Borough Hall.

The amended ordinance was drafted by the Eastern Schuylkill Regional Planning Commission, which oversees zoning for the Borough of Tamaqua and the townships of Rush, Schuylkill and Walker.

Under the revised ordinance, only two spots would allow data centers.

One, an area east of Sister’s Cantina in Tamaqua, could house a data center. However, municipal officials believe it’s too small to attract a developer.

The other is land along Route 209 in Schuylkill Township.

Both areas would have zoning changed to “industrial” to allow for the use.

No zoning changes to allow for data centers were made in either Walker or Rush townships.

Immediately after the hearing, each of the ESRP member municipalities will hold special and individual meetings to consider the enactment of the new ordinance.

The ESRP began meeting in the spring because its current ordinance doesn’t provide for data centers, warehouses and short-term rentals. Under law, all those uses must be permitted in zoning districts — and thus, the zoning had to be reworked.

f the ESRP didn’t revise its ordinance, it would be considered “exclusionary zoning.”

As for the area on the far end of East Broad Street in Tamaqua, borough solicitor Tony Odorizzi, who also serves as ESRP solicitor, said the site is likely too small for a data center. The 50-acre property is owned by BET Lehigh Real Estate.

“It probably isn’t big enough,” Odorizzi told borough council at a recent meeting. “We don’t anticipate any (data center) having any interest in it.”

In Schuylkill Township, zoning of land along Route 209 near the Walker Township boundary also was changed to industrial.

At a recent meeting, Schuylkill Township Supervisor Gary Feathers said the location is far away from homes.

For data centers to locate in those areas, a set of stringent requirements — all added to the zoning ordinance — would also have to be met.

The revised zoning also designates an area for a warehouse in the Tidewood Industrial park in Rush Township.

Copies of the ordinance and related zoning maps are available for inspection at the four ESRP member municipalities, as well as the Times News newspaper and the Schuylkill County Law Library at the Schuylkill County Courthouse in Pottsville.