Scranton City Council has introduced a series of comprehensive amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance aimed at regulating the burgeoning data center industry. These proposed changes establish clear legal definitions for critical industry terms, including “data center,” “battery storage center,” and “microreactor,” while also creating a specific “Technology and Energy Overlay” district on the city’s zoning map. This new overlay is designed to dictate exactly where these high-intensity facilities can be built, ensuring they are subject to stringent regulations regarding power usage, noise, and infrastructure impact. By formalizing these definitions and boundaries, city officials hope to avoid the legal ambiguities that have caused friction in neighboring municipalities.
The legislative push follows recent guidance from Lackawanna County planning officials, who advised members of the Scranton-Abingtons Planning Association (SAPA) to address data center zoning on an individual basis. While SAPA serves as a collaborative zoning body for Scranton, Dunmore, and several other communities, the county suggested that the unique infrastructure demands and community concerns surrounding data centers require localized strategies. By moving forward with its own "Technology and Energy Overlay," Scranton is taking a proactive stance to ensure that any future technological developments align with the city’s existing landscape and public safety requirements.