From the Planning Commission: Addressing Potential Data Center Development in East Goshen Township

As the demand for artificial intelligence accelerates, municipalities throughout Pennsylvania have found themselves navigating complex regulations, legal challenges, and community debates about large-scale data centers. While no data center projects are currently proposed in East Goshen, township officials are proactively addressing potential impacts by updating zoning ordinances to create strict standards that will apply should a data center be proposed in our township.

Under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code and subsequent court cases, municipalities cannot exclude or prohibit lawful land uses. If a municipality’s zoning ordinances do not specifically address a use – such as data centers – it creates a vulnerability that can be exploited by developers. By establishing clear rules for where data centers can be located and how they operate, East Goshen can protect its residents, the environment, and the quality of life we enjoy in the township.

The Township Planning Commission has been working on an update to the Township’s ordinances in the zone designated for light industrial use which runs along Airport Road and Wilson Drive. This update addresses the environmental and operational issues created by data centers. To give the township maximum oversight over such a development, the new draft would permit data centers by “conditional use” which requires that certain types of development – in this case, data centers – meet more stringent, site-specific standards.

To craft these standards, the Planning Commission thoroughly reviewed model ordinances from the Chester County Planning Commission, neighboring municipalities, and environmental organizations. The Planning Commission also sought input from the public and the Township’s authorities, boards, and commissions. The resulting proposal focuses on key community protections: safeguarding the environment, protecting water resources and critical infrastructure, and limiting ambient sound and vibration disturbances created by cooling systems and generators. In addition, the draft maximizes setback distances to protect residential neighborhoods and other sensitive areas.

The draft proposal developed by the Planning Commission will be sent to the Board of Supervisors for their review and action. Township residents are encouraged to review the full draft, ask questions, and share feedback. By working together, we can protect our community and our environment while balancing the demands of technological development.

The proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment to regulate Data Centers by Conditional Use may be found here.