East Whiteland Twp PA data center zoning Ord. 385-2026

Ordinance No. 385-2026, 'An Ordinance of East Whiteland Township, Amending East Whiteland Township Zoning Ordinance to Provide Regulations of Data Center and Related Uses' (32 pp.), enacted by the Board of Supervisors Sept. 24, 2026 (signed by Scott Lambert, Peter Fixler, Clinton Smith; attested by Township Manager Steve Brown); Section V: effective immediately upon adoption. Section I amends Chapter 200, §200-41 Table of Permitted Uses to add 'Data Center subject to Section 200-43.1' as a Conditional Use; Section II adds §200-43.1 Data Center Uses, permitting data centers only in the Industrial Zoning District under objective, performance-based standards — dimensional requirements, setbacks, noise and vibration limits, water-use restrictions, riparian buffers, emergency-response obligations, decommissioning security, financial security/escrow/mitigation funds — with applicants required to demonstrate through site-specific evidence verified by qualified consultants that there will be no adverse effects. Findings cite groundwater/stream baseflow, low-frequency noise, grid reliability (public safety priority over high-density users), BESS thermal runaway and fuel storage hazards. Inquirer: unanimous vote after months of a data center moratorium; does not affect the 1.5M sq ft project at the former 79-acre Cyprus Foote Mineral Co. property; chairman Lambert called it amendable. Township page lists a curative amendment timeline and a Chester County review letter (CA-08-26-19068). NOT ESTABLISHED here: specific setback distances and decibel limits (not read from the scanned pages beyond pp. 1-2 and 32).