Murrysville municipal staff hopes to define how it will manage proposed data centers, as well as residential and commercial solar arrays.
“Right now, we don’t have an ordinance or a zoning classification that would regulate either,” Murrysville Chief Administrator Michael Nestico told council at its Feb. 17 meeting. “In more recent months, we’ve been getting calls about both of these items, and we want to make sure we’re protected so that if a company does want to come into town, we have adequate controls in place.”
Proposals for data centers in Springdale and Homer City have generated debate and controversy for some residents regarding the amount of water and electricity they could consume, and what emissions they could release. In Murrysville, council’s discussion largely centered around what type of control would work best and give municipal officials the most options.
“Other communities are doing it through zoning, and so you’d have to decide what kind of use you want it to be — a permitted use in a specific type of zoning, or a conditional use — and then set the different control mechanisms and requirements, whether it’s setbacks, landscaping or other related things,” Nestico said.
New council member Michael Korns, an attorney who serves as solicitor in neighboring Penn Township, said he doesn’t favor a standalone ordinance.
“I think the primary concern with standalones is they’re vulnerable to a (court) challenge and they don’t conform to the (Pennsylvania Municipal Building Code),” Korns said. “Challenges have been filed against a number of standalones.”
The state code, referred to as the MPC, establishes the powers and duties of planning agencies, the requirements for comprehensive plans, and rules regarding ordinances for zoning and subdivision and land development.
Murrysville solicitor Wes Long brought two examples of solar ordinances he’d worked on in nearby communities, one covering smaller, residential-scale arrays and another addressing larger commercial installations.
“Going through zoning has advantages and disadvantages, as does a standalone ordinance with police powers,” Long said. “There are considerations for why one may want one or the other, but that’s probably a discussion for the future.”
Nestico said he believes regulating data centers and solar arrays through zoning makes the most sense.
“That way, it gets a review by both the planning commission and council,” he said.
Council consensus was for staff to start working on a draft of regulations based on Long’s examples along with model ordinances available from statewide municipal leagues.
“I think we need to get ahead of this, and make sure our residents and our emergency services are protected,” Councilwoman Jamie Lingg said. “The model ordinances are kind of ‘bare bones’ for what we would want or need.”
Nestico said a draft would be presented to council at a future meeting. Council will meet next at 7 p.m. March 4 in the municipal building at 4100 Sardis Road. Agendas are posted in advance at Murrysville.com.