Cities Tighten Data Center SitingCities Tighten Data Center SitingCoverage from The Morning Call, Americus Times-Recorder, and others
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Cities and townships are replacing or supplementing by-right industrial zoning with special-exception, conditional-use, and public-review requirements for data centers.
In the Lehigh Valley, proposed warehouse conversions in Allentown and Allen Township, along with a new Bethlehem facility, have focused attention on electricity demand, cooling water, noise, setbacks, and infrastructure capacity. The changes could lengthen project timelines and require developers to provide technical studies or fund related utility work, while some projects filed before new rules may remain under older standards.
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08/29/2026
The story now includes a new Bethlehem data-center proposal, making Lehigh Valley infrastructure capacity—especially a reported 120-megawatt demand—a more prominent issue. Allentown’s withdrawn project may be refiled, while municipalities are more explicitly moving from by-right zoning toward discretionary review.
07/23/2026
The biggest change is that Akron’s data-center proposal has moved from planning-stage support to an approved conditional-use framework, while Allentown’s project has become more defined as a refiled edge data center after a withdrawn application. The story also sharpens around tighter siting and disclosure rules, with Americus and Reading still actively drafting restrictions.
Boyle Construction proposed a 120-megawatt data center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as city officials considered zoning restrictions and impact-study requirements this week.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, plans an Aug. 11 committee discussion of a zoning ordinance that would require special permits, setbacks, and impact studies for data centers.
Quantm Group’s warehouse-to-edge data center proposal in Allentown, Pennsylvania, returned to review after withdrawal of altered plans, with a Sept. 8 planning commission meeting scheduled.
Allentown planning commission holds a special meeting Thursday to review Quantm Group LLC plans to convert a warehouse into a data center at 2401 W. Emmaus Ave.
Prologis obtained Allen Township final approval on March 24 for the Lehigh Valley East 16 warehouse-to-data-center conversion at 2500 Liberty Drive, with building-permit details expected soon.
Reading, Pennsylvania officials proposed zoning guardrails for data centers in the Heavy Manufacturing district and discussed curative amendments as Allentown began revising adopted rules.
Williamsport City Council adopted a 6-0 resolution in 2024 directing a 180-day zoning review and curative amendment for invalid data-center exclusion provisions.
Allentown City Council adopted Bill 20 on Wednesday night to create special-exception zoning rules for data centers, after rejecting a curative amendment and 180-day moratorium.
Allentown City Council tabled Bill 20 on AI data center zoning after residents raised concerns about setbacks and municipal curative amendment implications for a 180-day review window.
Allentown City Council schedules a Bill 20 hearing Wednesday to set zoning parameters for data centers as a warehouse conversion at 2401 W. Emaus Ave proceeds under prior rules.
Prologis is considering a data center conversion at its 2500 Liberty Drive property in Allen Township, Pennsylvania, supported by a planned electrical substation and possible solar panels.
9/3/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
Boyle Construction, Paxos, and TensorIQ announced a proposed 65,000-square-foot, 120-megawatt data center after Bethlehem's Tuesday planning commission review in Pennsylvania.
8/29/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
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