Municipal Monday — Issue 02. A weekly digest of regulatory and development activity from 32 Central Pennsylvania municipalities.
THE PATTERN — Last week's six-municipality data center story is now eight — seven still drafting, one withdrawn (Monroe, 5/14). Two of the active drafts now have firm public hearing dates: Hampden Township on 7/2/2026 at 7 p.m., and West Hanover Township at its 7/16 Board of Supervisors meeting. Silver Spring held a dedicated special meeting on 5/13 to discuss its proposed Ordinance 2026-01. Lower Allen Planning Commission took up a Data Centers Zoning Ordinance text amendment on 5/20. South Hanover approved an advertisement on 5/12. South Londonderry is advertising a revised ordinance. Camp Hill is in early committee discussion. The pattern is consistent across all eight: data centers structured as a Conditional Use in heaviest-industrial districts (typically I-2 or General Industrial), with separate operational criteria layered on top. Comment windows are narrowing — if you own industrially-zoned land in any of these jurisdictions, the rules being written this summer are the ones you'll be working under for years.
ON THE BOARDS — Subdivision and land development activity stayed elevated. East Pennsboro takes up the Revised Final Subdivision and Land Development Plan for Lands of W.E.B. Contracting on 5/20. West Hanover approved Final Subdivision #26.001 for 245 Hershey Road and the Wagner add-on on 5/21. Lower Swatara is acting on the Halkias Minor Subdivision Plan (Stoner Drive) on 5/20. Silver Spring revisited Hunters Glen on 4/22. Reading Township has the Tony Little Land Development Plan on 5/18.
LONG HORIZON — Comprehensive plan and ordinance work continues. Mechanicsburg's Comp Plan Steering Committee meets 5/27 at 6 p.m. Camp Hill is waiting on a delayed comprehensive plan grant.
COST TO WATCH — Three financial items in flight. Windsor's Resolution 2026R-05-02 (fee schedule amendment) was on the 5/18 agenda. Newberry Township discussed a proposed Escrow Resolution and associated Fee Schedule at its 5/12 workshop, with a Fire Escrow follow-up on 5/26. Upper Allen Township advertised a public hearing to vacate a portion of Old Hollow Road — that's both an access question and a cost question for any adjacent owner.
If you own or are working land in any of the jurisdictions mentioned — especially the eight working on data center ordinances — happy to talk through what the emerging ordinance language might mean for a specific parcel.
Municipal Monday runs weekly. Next issue: 6/1.
Correction (July 1, 2026): An earlier version of this issue included items from Middlesex Township (Butler County) and Carroll Township (Washington County) — same-named municipalities outside our Central Pennsylvania coverage area. Those items and the affected counts have been removed.