Municipal Monday, Issue 08. A weekly digest of regulatory and development activity from 32 Central Pennsylvania municipalities.
THE PATTERN: The data center ordinance wave reached its decision round. Hampden Township's July 2 agenda carried both the public hearing and an adoption vote on Ordinance 2026-03, which would make data centers conditional uses in the Industrial General district under new Part 19 zoning standards. Three more hearings land inside three weeks: Lower Allen Township on proposed Ordinance 2026-04 July 13, Windsor Township with a hearing and possible adoption July 20, and Silver Spring Township July 22. Behind them, two municipalities moved to advertise: South Hanover Township at its July 1 special meeting, and East Hanover Township (Dauphin County) on its July 7 agenda, with referral to the Dauphin County Planning Commission. West Hanover Township's Planning Commission worked its draft ordinance June 25, and Monaghan Township continued its ordinance review behind its moratorium. Eight municipalities, one wave, and the first outcomes land this month.
ON THE BOARDS: Middlesex Township (Cumberland County) carried preliminary land development plans for two phases of Pennsylvania Digital's PAX-1 campus, Phase 2 and Phase 1-C, on its July 1 agenda. This project has been in motion for a while, but land development plans in front of a board mark a different stage than the ordinance work elsewhere. Beyond that, a heavy review week of 19 named plan actions, led by Messiah Lifeways' revised preliminary plan and a ten-waiver modification package for Seneca Heights, both in Fairview Township June 29.
LONG HORIZON: Upper Allen Township discussed the first draft of a land use referendum ordinance for land preservation on July 1, a rare instrument worth watching. Swatara Township is moving to advertise an August 5 public hearing on amendments to both its Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and its Zoning Ordinance. New Cumberland Borough spent a July 1 special meeting prioritizing implementation strategies for its draft Comprehensive Plan, and East Hanover Township (Dauphin County) continues updating its zoning and subdivision and land development ordinances, now including agritourism and short-term rental provisions.
COST TO WATCH: Not a fee schedule week. Upper Allen's July 1 agenda carried authorization for its solicitor to negotiate a settlement with Charter Homes over unauthorized stormwater facilities built in a township open space lot. Windsor Township listed a possible fee schedule amendment June 29. New Cumberland's July 8 agenda carries authorization to advertise Ordinance #731, a condemnation of the 320 Bridge Street parking lot by eminent domain.
If you own or are working land in any of these jurisdictions, happy to talk through what a specific item means for a specific parcel.
Municipal Monday runs weekly. Next issue: 7/13.