Moosic Borough officials are entering the final stages of crafting one of Lackawanna County’s most comprehensive pieces of data center legislation as local governments across Pennsylvania race to regulate the industry. The Borough Council could hold a public hearing as early as its June 8 meeting to consider adopting a new ordinance that strictly defines and regulates data centers by mandating numerous restrictions and required studies before any project can move forward. Local governments in the Commonwealth are legally required to accommodate every lawful land use somewhere within their borders, and failing to establish clear zoning rules for data centers leaves municipalities vulnerable to costly exclusionary zoning lawsuits.
In an effort to ensure the new regulations are legally sound and effective, Moosic Council President Marilyn French announced plans to present a draft of the ordinance at an upcoming Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs conference to gather feedback from municipal leaders statewide. The council has also prioritized local input, holding a work session on Monday to seek feedback from community members regarding the proposed restrictions. If the draft receives positive reviews from state experts and residents, officials intend to move forward with the formal public hearing next month to proactively safeguard the borough's zoning laws before any development applications are filed.
