05/07/2026
Tonight the Supervisors took a pro-active step in addressing the emerging land use of Data Centers. The supervisors directed the township engineer, Solicitor, and Secretary to start working on a recommended update to our zoning ordinance to add them as a conditional use in our Industrial zoned areas. The following statement was read by Supervisor Winkleman in order to help clarify why this process was taking place. We encourage the public to become educated on the issue and participate in the process.
"Over the past 24 hours there were some accusations and assumptions circulating around social media, I want to address this conversation directly and keep it grounded in facts, process, and our legal responsibilities.
What’s being considered is not approval of a project or a developer. It is a potential text
amendment to our zoning ordinance—a routine and necessary function under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC). Our job is to make sure our ordinance is current, clear, and legally defensible—not reactive or vague.
Why Does This Matter? (Legal Perspective)
A local municipality Gregg Township in Allenwood is currently tied up in dealing with 5 potential data centers and are now trying to address this reactively because they failed to
properly deal with this in their own ordinance. One of the most important aspects of this
discussion is the risk of doing nothing.
In Pennsylvania we have what is called an Exclusionary Zoning Risk.
If a use like a data center is not addressed anywhere in the ordinance, a landowner or
developer can argue the township is unlawfully excluding that use, which can result in a
curative amendment challenge or litigation.
Without defined standards, an applicant may challenge the ordinance and potentially gain
approval with fewer local conditions than the township would otherwise be able to impose.
Uncertainty and Legal Costs
Undefined uses often lead to inconsistent interpretations, appeals, and increased legal costs, all of which ultimately impact taxpayers.
Loss of Negotiating Position
A clearly written conditional use section allows the township to require setbacks, buffering,
infrastructure coordination, and operational limitations.
What a Conditional Use Actually Does.
Listing a use as a conditional use does not guarantee approval—it creates guardrails and
• A public hearing
• Proof of compliance with objective ordinance criteria
• Review of infrastructure, environmental, and operational impacts
• The ability for the township to impose site-specific conditions
Concerns such as water usage, power demand, noise, and land impact are valid and
important. These issues are best addressed through defined standards and a formal review process—not by leaving gaps in the ordinance.
It is also important to avoid suggesting that this process is intended to benefit a specific or predetermined developer. There is no project being approved, and any amendment would
apply broadly.
Bottom Line
Our responsibility is to plan responsibly, not avoid difficult topics. Ignoring emerging land
uses increases the likelihood of reduced control and increased legal exposure in the future."
