HAZLE TWP., PA — Officials in Hazle Township are set to convene a special public meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m. to gather resident input on proposed zoning regulations governing data centers and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
The meeting, organized by the Hazle Township Planning Commission, will take place at the Hazleton Area High School Auditorium to accommodate public interest following months of regional debate over large-scale technology and infrastructure proposals.
The draft ordinance establishes strict criteria for where and how high-density computing campuses and utility storage facilities may operate. Under the proposal, designated data center development would be concentrated within an industrial corridor located north of Route 924, west of Interstate 81, and east of existing 230-kilovolt transmission lines. The regulations also mandate substantial property setbacks from neighboring residential homes and natural waterways, while establishing strict compliance standards for ambient noise limits, traffic impact assessments, stormwater runoff control, and mandatory groundwater well and mining hazard studies.
Tonight's session allows the planning commission to collect formal comments from community members and stakeholders. Following the planning commission's review and any subsequent modifications, the Hazle Township Board of Supervisors will schedule a formal public hearing before casting a final vote on whether to enact the zoning amendment.
