TOWNSHIP ZONING ORDINANCE MEETING 4/22

Public Notice
03/30/2026

 
THE TOWNSHIP OF SMITHFIELD MONROE COUNTY, PA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP ZONING ORDINANCE REVISING CRITERIA FOR DATA CENTERS, DISASTER RECOVERY FACILITIES, AND DATA CENTER ACCESSORY USES.

Notice is hereby given that the Township of Smithfield, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, will hold a regular business meeting on 

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Township Municipal Center, 1155 Red Fox Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

At that meeting and as a meeting agenda item, there will be a public hearing to consider and vote on whether or not to adopt proposed Township Ordinance No. 265 that would amend the Township Zoning Ordinance as follows:

revisions to Chapter 27-Zoning, Section 27-309-Schedule of District Regulations to remove Data Centers, Disaster Recovery Facilities, and Data Center Accessory Uses as a Conditional Use in the ED (Economic Development) District and change the use in the M-1 (Industrial) District from a Principal Permitted Use to a Conditional Use;

revisions to Chapter 27-511(22) clarifying that Data Centers, Disaster Recovery Facilities, and Data Center Accessory Uses are permitted in the M-1 (Industrial) District and are subject to supplementary regulations; revisions to Chapter 27-511(22)(L) providing for a decommissioning procedure; and revisions to Chapter 27-511(22)(G) providing for additional Sound/Noise Criteria.

Any and all interested persons or parties are invited to attend the meeting and public hearing and offer public comment prior to the Board taking official action. Immediately following this public hearing and on the same day, time and place, the Township Supervisors will then continue with the public meeting to inter alia consider, vote and/or take official action on the zoning change or on any of the matters discussed at the public hearing; otherwise, another public hearing will be scheduled upon due and proper notice prior to taking such official action.

A full copy of the complete text of the proposed ordinance has been delivered to the County Law Library and this newspaper for examination by the public and a full copy of the complete text of the proposed ordinance may also be examined without charge at the Township Municipal Center (at the address noted above) Monday through Friday during its business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) by requesting a copy of same from the Township Secretary; or, a copy of the ordinance may be obtained at cost upon payment to the Township of its copy charge for same. Ronold J. Karasek, Esquire Solicitor to Smithfield Township

Note: While this is a step in the right direction, moving Data Centers from the economic development zone to M1, light industrial under conditional use, Data Centers should only be zoned in Heavy Industrial areas.