Wednesday, June 24th at 5:45pm at City Council Chambers, 435 Hamilton St
Special City Council meeting to review amendments to Bill 20. After City Council agreed that the ordinances were not as strong as they could be last week and still passed Bill 20 as is, they will now start the lengthy process to strengthen it. Once again, here is the link to read current Bill 20
PA Stands Up has written talking points for the June 24th meeting
EXAMPLES OF STRONG ORDINANCES TO PULL FROM TO AMEND OURS:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XrHDCk9YCb8M4mN-Zun1KWM9slNvTBM1/view
https://www.luzernecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/47756/20260308_LCPC_Zoning_Ordinance_Amendment_1_of_2026_V4
GENERAL TOPICS:
Our ordinance be stricter about zoning requirements, rather than 'use by right' we should specify 'special exception use'
Our ordinance should include rules around when the public should be made aware of applications
LOCATION & PLACEMENT:
It currently only requires 200 foot setbacks from homes which greenlights the Emaus Ave project. Ordinances are being passed across the state with as high as 2500 foot setbacks.
Our ordinance should ban data centers from being built near schools, places of worship, parks, or hospitals
Our ordinance should require traffic and transportation studies and then implementation plans for ensuring transportation is not disrupted
NOISE/LIGHT:
Our ordinance should define noise limits
Our ordinance should require noise testing
Our ordinance should have a process for community members to file noise complaints
Our ordinance should regulate external lighting
CONSTRUCTION/DECOMMISSION:
Our ordinance should include decommissioning requirements
Our ordinance should include provisions requiring the developer to restore the land as a natural area with a decommissioning fund if the data center is decommissioned
Our ordinance should require the fire department and their equipment to be tested to make sure they have what they need for data center-specific emergencies like lithium-ion battery fires and electrical system failures
ENVIRONMENTAL/WATER:
Our ordinance should provide specifics on the size, interval, and types of plants for a landscape buffer
Our ordinance should require that data center applicants submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that would show all the possible environmental impacts of the data centers and solutions for all the identified problems. These issues include things like air quality, soil quality, surface water quality, groundwater sources, impacts on wildlife including endangered & threatened species, and increased temperatures around the data center.
Our ordinance should require water usage reports to be done and transparent to the public
ENERGY:
Our ordinance should have strict rules and requirements for how much of the energy used should be from renewable energy sources
Our ordinance should require electricity usage reports to be done and transparent to the public
Our ordinance should have strict regulations around backup generators and emissions, like rules around meeting emission standards, when generators should be used and tested, and how fuel is stored and prevented from spilling
Our ordinance should have strict rules around how hazardous materials would be used, stored, or generated.
If you cannot attend this meeting in person, here is the link to the live stream of the council meeting (click link under VIDEO for June 24th)
If you cannot attend this meeting in person, PLEASE EMAIL CITY COUNCIL. You can copy and paste the verbiage from above. EMAIL citycouncil@allentownpa.gov and zoning@allentownpa.gov