West Hempfield Twp PA data center zoning ordinance (2026)

West Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — Board of Supervisors UNANIMOUS adoption of a land-use ordinance governing data centers following a public hearing. DATE: WGAL (published Sept. 1, 2026, 10:13 p.m. ET) says 'Monday night' (Aug. 31); LNP's meeting brief says 'Board of Supervisors meeting, Sept. 1'; the roundup says 'voted in September'. enacted_date left null because of this conflict. PROVISIONS (LNP): conditional use approval by the supervisors in the GENERAL INDUSTRIAL district; buildings max 120,000 sq ft (156,000 sq ft if 75% green roof); 75 ft height; restrictions on sound, light and noise; 1,000 ft from the nearest residential property line or agricultural building (Township Manager Andrew Stern: among the most restrictive in Pennsylvania); sound studies; water conservation technology such as closed-loop cooling; groundwater feasibility study. FUTURE: planning commission to consider amendments on noise, water use and decommissioning (WGAL). A developer has inquired about the general industrial district but no plans have been submitted (LNP roundup). CONTEXT (same roundup): Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code gives municipalities zoning authority but state law prohibits outright bans of a legitimate land use; Lancaster County Planning Commission issued a guide for municipal data center rules.