Upper Gwynedd has joined the ranks of townships discussing data centers and new rules meant to allow or prevent them.
Upper Gwynedd’s board has voted ahead a draft code dealing with data centers, and it could be on the books within weeks.
“It’s an emerging use that we’ve seen requested in proposals across the region, across the commonwealth and across the United States,” said attorney Greg Heleniak.
Municipalities across the region have discussed data centers and associated regulations in recent weeks, including both East and West Rockhill currently debating rules and regulations, facilities planned in Falls Township, Bucks County and Limerick Township in Montgomery County, and one in Conshohocken denied last year after resident pushback.
In late March neighboring Towamencin took up talks on the topic, voting to advertise a first draft of local codes for possible adoption in April.
In a presentation to the commissioners on April 7, Heleniak outlined a draft ordinance, spelling out the rules and how data center uses “may fall within an existing use, but may not” under current codes.
“Your zoning officer has not been confronted with making that interpretation yet, but it was an opportunity to identify that we did not think there was something spot-on in your ordinance,” the attorney said.
“It would be a legitimate land use that the township would have to provide for,” said Heleniak, of the current ordinance.
Under the draft up for review, data center uses would be allowed in the township’s limited industrial district, on a property of at least four acres, and no closer than 200 feet to any residential property.
The draft also requires that a utility impact study must be provided to the township “‘that satisfactorily proves that there will be no adverse impact on the availability and cost of utilities as a result of the use,’ which addresses some fairly common concerns that electricity prices or water prices would go up because of the demand these facilities make on the utility grid,” Heleniak said.
Also included in the draft is a sound regulation that Heleniak said is meant to address a common concern regarding noise generated by data centers.
“This would regulate any noise coming from this data center to be the equivalent of 60 decibels at the property boundary, at all times; 60 decibels is currently the same number used in your noise ordinance for nighttime operation on any property,” he said.
“This doesn’t mean the sound is going to not exist. But it’s consistent with your legislative determination you’ve made already in your noise ordinance, that this is a reasonable level of noise, at the property boundary, for nighttime noise,” Heleniak said.
Any user would have to either find ways to limit the noise itself, or buffer it from adjacent properties, to ensure no impact on any surrounding residential, commercial or industrial property, the attorney added.
No comments were made on the proposed draft by the commissioners or public, and township Manager Sandra Brookley Zadell said it will be up for a board vote to advertise during their April 13 action meeting, then likely be on a board agenda for final adoption in May.
Upper Gwynedd’s commissioners next meet at 7 p.m. on April 13 at the township administration building, 1 Parkside Place. For more information visit www.UpperGwynedd.org.
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