Community and Economic Development Committee, May 14, 2026
Votes on Bill 20 - Data Center Use Zoning Ordinance Amendment, unanimous
What happened
The Allentown Community and Economic Development Committee advanced Bill 20, a zoning ordinance amendment defining and regulating data center uses as a special-exception use in two industrial districts (IG and IM), with extensive setback, height, buffering, and environmental-stud…
- Jurisdiction
- Allentown, PA
- Governing body
- Advisory (makes a recommendation)
- Date
- May 14, 2026
- Decisions
- 3 zoning decisions
- Outcome
- Voted, unanimous
Projects in this meeting (1)
A project bundles every related decision, across hearingsBill 20 - data center zoning
Recommended 4-2Free sample: decision 1 of 3
Bill 20 - Data Center Use Zoning Ordinance Amendment
Amends Chapter 660 zoning to define data centers, accessory data center use, and renewable energy; adds data center as a special exception use in IG and IM industrial districts (over 50,000 sq ft) with minimum 5-8 acre requirements, 75-foot street setback, 200-foot setback from sensitive uses, 50-foot from property lines, 25-foot landscape buffer, 50-70 foot height max, and required environmental/noise/water/sewer/power studies. Moved forward favorably to regular meeting on a voice vote.
- special exception use requiring Zoning Hearing Board decision
- 75-foot street setback
- 200-foot setback from residential, civic, institutional, childcare uses
- 50-foot from all property lines
- 25-foot landscape buffer
- 50-foot max height (70-foot in higher districts)
- environmental impact, noise/vibration, water/sewer, power studies required
- minimum 5 or 8 acres depending on district
The other decisions are listed below by title. The full write-up, verbatim conditions, and the audio at each vote are in Pro.
Meeting Summary
The Allentown Community and Economic Development Committee advanced Bill 20, a zoning ordinance amendment defining and regulating data center uses as a special-exception use in two industrial districts (IG and IM), with extensive setback, height, buffering, and environmental-stud…
Key Decisions (3)
Bill 20 - Data Center Use Zoning Ordinance Amendment
Bill 33 - Vacant and At-Risk Property Ordinance
Bill 34 - General Fund Cost Distribution Amendment
Market Signals (4)
Infrastructure
Allentown is proactively regulating data center development, limiting it to…
Housing Demand
Officials cited a housing shortage and robust market in Allentown,…
Commercial Demand
Multiple long-vacant commercial properties (some vacant over 10 years) in…
Sentiment
Council members expressed strong skepticism toward large data center operators…
Who Spoke (10)
On the record: the chair, 2 councilmembers, 3 staff members, the clerk, and 3 members of the public.
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