The Newtown Area Joint Zoning Council convened on June 4, 2026, primarily to focus on expediting a new zoning ordinance (JMZO 2026-03) to regulate data center development
Prioritizing speed to avoid a "regulatory vacuum," the Council aims to establish an immediate legal framework to prevent developers from filing applications under existing, less specific zoning categories. The goal is to get a foundational ordinance on the books quickly, with the understanding that technical revisions and refinements will be made shortly after adoption.
A significant driver behind this urgency is the need to close zoning loopholes, such as high-density server operations attempting to mask themselves as "financial establishments" to bypass strict data center regulations. The proposed ordinance targets Restricted Industrial (RI) and Light Industrial (LI) districts rather than spreading the facilities across all industrial zones.
It also rigorously addresses the severe infrastructure and environmental burdens data centers create, proposing a $5,000 fee for water impact to protect local groundwater, as well as mandatory fire safety planning and objective pre- and post-construction environmental studies.
Looking ahead, the draft data center ordinance is advancing to the Planning Commission for review this June, which will be followed by a mandatory 30-day public advertisement and comment period.
The Council is targeting an initial adoption of the ordinance by early July.
Alongside the data center discussions, the Council's agenda also touched upon ongoing sign ordinance revisions and the possible administrative cancellation of standard meetings in July and August.
Your new post is loading...
After operating as a mobile exhibit since 2014, the organization will now occupy a 300-year-old stone farmhouse that has significant ties to the Underground Railroad.
The restoration project, overseen by county officials, involved over five years of complex renovations to preserve the integrity of the pre-Revolutionary structure.