L. MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. – The Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners is looking to make changes to its zoning ordinances to address data centers.
The board on Thursday night approved advertising the proposed amended regulations ahead of conducting a public hearing.
The proposed ordinance permits data centers as a conditional use in three districts: Industrial, Highway Enterprise and Office, Research, Light Industrial Center. It requires the applicant to submit an annual report to the township “providing detailed metrics” of the water used by the site, the amount of water dispersed from the site into the public sewer system, electricity drawn from the power grid for regular operations, and the amount of electricity drawn from emergency or supplemental generators.
It also dictates that noise and vibration studies be completed by the applicant and establishes power supply standards along with the creation of an emergency response plan.
The legislation defines the phrase “data center,” amends the use table, and creates additional requirements for data center land uses. Included are emergency requirements, along with setbacks and buffers. The document attempts to distinguish data centers and data center equipment, establishes definitions for land development and provides buffer distance requirements.
The ordinance further establishes standards for noise, water use, sewage, electricity and environmental concerns.
A hearing on the proposed amendments will occur at a future date.
Traffic code updates
The board approved the advertisement of proposed vehicle and traffic code amendments.
One amendment would create a 35 mph maximum speed limit on Sauerkraut Lane between Route 100 and Spring Creek Road. Another would update where traffic signals are located throughout the township.
The bill also amends where turns are prohibited on red signals. Finally, the proposal also updates intersections with stop signs by removing them at Sauerkraut Lane and Willow Lane, and removing the Gun Club Road Bridge from the bridge weight limits section.