BUFFALO TWP -- The township’s board of supervisors will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9 to discuss a proposed amendment to the township’s zoning ordinance that would create new definitions, boundaries and restrictions regarding the development of any data centers in the township.

Portions of the proposed ordinance were previewed at the monthly board of supervisors meeting Wednesday night, Nov. 11, by township solicitor Brian Farrington.

According to Farrington, under the terms of the new ordinance (if approved), data centers would be allowed as a conditional use only in the M-2 manufacturing zoning district, which covers only a small portion of the township, mainly near the border with Allegheny County.

A data center developer looking to build in the township would need to meet a high burden of proof to ensure that they are meeting the standards of the zoning ordinance and are able to address concerns regarding pollution, noise, water usage, emergency response and any future decommissioning.

“There needs to be a site plan done. There needs to be a utility plan done. There needs to be an environmental impact statement,” Farrington said. “An environmental impact statement needs to include a statement regarding existing resources. They also need to make sure that they have all of the required state permits.”

The draft ordinance also states data center developers must obtain a “will-serve” letter from a utility provider indicating that it has the capacity to serve the planned development.

The developer must also submit plans for the data center’s cooling system, and a Pennsylvania-licensed professional must certify that all utilities meet the requirements set in the ordinance.