Limerick planners advance tighter data‑center rules after hours of public comment

LIMERICK, Pa. — The Limerick Township Planning Commission voted to recommend consideration of a revised data‑center zoning ordinance after staff outlined a package of changes and residents delivered lengthy public comment urging stricter protections.

Staff described the draft amendment as a follow‑up to 2024 amendments and said it draws heavily on Montgomery County guidance and other municipalities. Key proposed changes include capping the LLI district data‑center area (a one‑mile cap on tract location), reducing maximum building height from 120 feet to 80 feet, and adopting revised residential setback standards derived from county guidance. The draft tightens noise controls by adding C‑weighted limits (60 dBc daytime, 50 dBc nighttime) on top of the ordinance's A‑weighted limits (67 dBA daytime, 57 dBA nighttime) and requires noise studies at four points: conditional‑use review (hypothetical equipment), building permit (selected equipment), start‑up (first operational measurement including generator runs), and annually thereafter.

Staff also proposed technical and operational requirements: mandatory closed‑loop cooling systems, a wastewater disposal analysis and drought‑response plan, decommissioning standards (including a 110% decommissioning bond re‑assessed every five years), an electrical rate‑impact provision requiring documentation from the power provider, and emergency‑management provisions (annual inspections and NFPA‑855 standards for battery energy storage systems).

The public-comment period drew dozens of residents and stakeholders who urged stronger protections. Residents sought larger setbacks (many asked for 1,000–2,500 feet from homes, schools and daycare), tighter noise limits and independent annual testing, restrictions on diesel generator testing and emissions (including EPA Tier 4 standards and constrained testing windows), explicit caps or independent verification of water withdrawals and wastewater volume, more robust bonds for roads and decommissioning, and clearer requirements that developers shoulder emergency‑service costs if additional resources are needed.

Planning staff responded that the draft incorporates additional protections (C‑weighted noise limits and repeated studies), that enforcement follows the township's zoning enforcement process (complaint, investigation, notice of violation, corrective period and fines currently referenced at $500/day with the ability to seek court remedies), and that some requested measures (for example, independent power guarantees in perpetuity) raise complex enforceability issues the township will continue to study. Commissioners and residents also urged staff to consider community‑benefit agreements, cumulative public‑health impact assessments and stronger penalty mechanisms.

The commission voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors consider the ordinance as presented and to forward public comments for further staff study. Commissioners emphasized this is an initial draft intended to offer stronger protections than the existing ordinance while leaving open the possibility of further refinements before final adoption.

Ending: Staff said public comments will be compiled for further study and that the ordinance proceeds to the public‑advertisement and Board of Supervisors review process under state municipal procedure.