Ryan Township plans to address data centers, solar farms in zoning amendments
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE
BARNESVILLE – Township supervisors here will consider several amendments to the zoning ordinance at next month’s meeting regarding solar farms and data centers, and to rezone a portion of land.
Chris Riedlinger, solicitor for Ryan Township, prepared four ordinances to amend the township’s zoning code.
One is in response to a request to rezone much of the Mountain Valley Golf Course from residential to industrial.
The remaining pertain to data centers, solar farms, and warehousing.
“Right now, there’s no place in your current zoning ordinance where you’ve designated a spot for data centers, there’s no place where you’ve designated a spot for solar,” Riedlinger said. “That’s something you should do because, if you don’t have a space for them, then you could get caught by a developer seeking site-specific relief because your ordinance is exclusionary.”
Warehousing does have a designated zoning district, but there are no regulations associated, he said.
The rezoning ordinance and the amendments pertaining to data centers and solar farms were filed with the Schuylkill County Planning Commission for comments and will be considered for final approval at a hearing immediately prior to the Dec. 8 township supervisors meeting.
Riedlinger said representatives of Yudacot had requested changes to the warehousing ordinance that supervisors are evaluating.
Under the proposed ordinance, data centers would be permitted as a conditional use in the industrial zoning districts and a buffer yard would be required.
The ordinance also requires an analysis of water needs to be submitted if the center is not using air cooling or closed loop water systems. If the water supply is from a well, the center would be required to develop a water feasibility study taking into account all streams with 1,000 feet of the site, all existing and proposed wells within 1,000 feet, and the long-term yield of the water source, among other requirements.
Solar systems would also be a conditional use in the industrial districts.
A conditional use would require a hearing before the Ryan Township Zoning Hearing Board and approval before it can be built.
The full ordinances are available at the township building.
Supervisors voted to hold a hearing on the ordinances at 6:15pm on Dec. 8, prior to the regular meeting at 7pm.
In other business, the township is seeking a road crew member with a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
If interested, call the township office at 570-467-2771.
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