ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Allentown Planning Commission recommended zoning ordinance amendments governing data centers Tuesday afternoon at city hall.

The changes aim to establish specific regulations through standards and requirements for the construction, installation and ongoing operations of the facilities within the city’s borders.

The amendments involve several sections and tables. The category “data center use” along with the definition of “data center,” “data center accessory use” and “renewable energy” would be added should the amendments become law.

Currently, data center is not defined in the city’s code.

The planning commission’s action Tuesday afternoon is indicative of municipalities across the Lehigh Valley who have also recently updated ordinances regarding data centers. Those municipalities include South Whitehall, North Whitehall, Upper Macungie and Lower Macungie and Lowhill Townships.

Some amendments approved in those municipalities include requiring applicants submit an annual report “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 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.

In some cases 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. Other documents attempt to distinguish data centers and data center equipment, establish definitions for land development and provides buffer distance requirements. Finally, some further establish standards for noise, water use, sewage, electricity and environmental concerns.

Tuesday afternoon’s vote followed a public hearing which featured no public comments. The amendments will now go before city council.

Manufacturing Building

Planners approved a manufacturing building slated for 928 American Parkway NE.

The proposal calls for a 73,5000-square-foot building to be divided into three units featuring 11 loading docks, six truck parking spaces, 82 car parking spots with 20 potential future spaces. Access to the facility would come from Riverside Drive.

Scott Unger, Allentown Economic Development Corp., said the project would put the property “back on the tax rolls.”