Data center zoning guidance for municipalities
Summary
A resident raised environmental and utility concerns about a planned ~247-acre data center campus at Keystone Trade Center — water use, diesel generator pollution, electricity costs, and tax treatment — and urged public hearings and environmental review.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 12
- Last 30 days
- 0
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 7, 2026.
Impact analysis
Potential ratepayer and tax-base impacts unquantified; speaker questioned whether tax abatements would apply.
Project developers and short-term construction workers if built.
Fairless Hills residents concerned about water, air, and electrical costs.
Mentions & discussions (12)
Planning Commission - Oct 7, 2026
Data centers are the planning story of 2026, with several local municipalities drafting data center ordinances and one passing a six-month moratorium to buy drafting time. Getting rules in place early could ease community friction when developers arrive.
Planning Commission - Aug 5, 2026
Commissioners discussed municipalities preparing for data center proposals. East Rockhill Township has sent an amended data center ordinance with a conditional-use component expected before the board next month, and model ordinance guidance is available through Bucks County Connects.
County Commissioners - Jul 1, 2026
A Falls Township speaker accused Chair Ellis-Marseglia of unfairly having a Black commenter escorted out at the June 17 meeting while he spoke about the Amazon data center's infrastructure and environmental impacts, calling it discriminatory. The commissioners did not respond on the record to the accusation.
Planning Commission - Jul 1, 2026
Commissioners and the executive director discussed how townships are grappling with large data center proposals, including the AWS project in Fall Township. Most municipal ordinances don't define data centers as a distinct use, so townships are drafting new ordinances — and some passed a six-month moratorium to buy time. State legislation on moratoria and tax breaks is also in play.
County Commissioners - Jun 17, 2026
Residents say the Amazon project at the old U.S. Steel site brings backup gas turbines, grid strain, and broken job promises, and they want county intervention. The commissioners said townships — not the county — hold the zoning power, but the county Planning Commission publishes data-center guidelines and is sharing Loudoun County, Virginia's playbook with municipalities.
Planning Commission - Jun 3, 2026
Two residents filed written comments opposing data centers — including the proposed Amazon facility in Falls Township — citing higher electric bills, air pollution from backup generators, and heavy water use. The commission is only advisory, but the comments go on the record for the municipality's decision-makers.
County Commissioners - Jun 3, 2026
Three public commenters demanded the county stop or slow a proposed data center, citing grid strain, water use, transparency, and environmental concerns. Chair Ellis-Marseglia and Commissioner Harvie explained zoning is a township responsibility, but the county Planning Commission is helping municipalities strengthen zoning restrictions modeled partly on Loudoun County, Virginia's experience.
Planning Commission - May 6, 2026
Two residents filed written comments opposing data centers, especially the proposed Amazon facility in Falls Township, over electricity costs, air emissions from backup generators, and water use. The county notes it's only an advisory body and doesn't approve projects.
Planning Commission - Mar 4, 2026
Bucks County launched a webpage of model and adopted ordinances so towns can regulate data center development. Commissioners stressed vetting the material so it informs rather than scares off jobs, while preserving municipal control as state legislation with possible preemption language moves in Harrisburg.
County Commissioners - Feb 18, 2026
A resident raised environmental and utility concerns about a planned ~247-acre data center campus at Keystone Trade Center — water use, diesel generator pollution, electricity costs, and tax treatment — and urged public hearings and environmental review.
Planning Commission - Feb 4, 2026
Commissioners learned of a proposed 65-megawatt hyperscale data center in West Rockhill Township and other municipalities forming data-center committees or drafting ordinances. Staff will build a resource hub and a model ordinance to help towns balance the jobs and tax revenue against the massive power demands, water use, and grid impacts these facilities bring.
Planning Commission - Jan 7, 2026
Staff's review of a Richland Township project of roughly half a million square feet flagged its data-center potential — an issue commissioners said deserves attention. Staff plan to publish an article on data centers in the Planning Insight newsletter.
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