Official Statement of Potential Adoption of Data Center Overlay in South Hanover Township
Members of the Hummelstown Community:
Mayor and Hummelstown Borough Council have decided to share a joint statement as individuals both within the Borough limits and from surrounding communities have asked us what our position is relative to the potential adoption of a data center overlay in South Hanover Township.
The reality is this: the Borough has extraordinarily little power to influence the zoning decision of a neighboring political subdivision. Moreover, the Borough understands that the Municipalities Planning Code requires that all uses be provided for in a zoning scheme, which includes potential data center uses. The failure to do so allows a landowner to either bring an action to challenge the zoning scheme or to suggest their own ordinance which can often be worse for the community.
Unfortunately, the possibility that the land will remain undisturbed and undeveloped in the future seems unlikely. It is also important to remember that the existing zoning scheme already allows for the development of that land as warehouses and residential homes as a matter of right, meaning that the owner can develop the land without the ability of the Township to deny their use.
As we have noted in previous meetings, a warehouse or residential development could bring additional unnecessary noise, traffic, and sprawl to the Hummelstown portion of Grandview Avenue. One of the Borough’s significant concerns is that what is ultimately developed on that property is not worse than alternative uses, like a data center.
As a Council we have attended the South Hanover meetings, educated ourselves as to the pros and cons of data centers, listened to resident and non-resident concerns, and followed the changes to this ordinance over the last two years. With any project that borders the Borough we advocate for the best interest of our residents, businesses, and school district.
The adoption of any zoning scheme requires a significant degree of compromise and, often, the final ordinance may not contain every term that every stakeholder desires. From our perspective there has been public debate over the terms of the revised ordinance and there have been many additions or deletions to add more protections to the community, which we support. Credit must be given to engaged citizens from the area whose thoughtful comments have moved the draft of the ordinance in a positive direction. It demonstrates that public discussion, when intended to educate and persuade, has a helpful effect on policy decisions.
We have to trust that the South Hanover Township Supervisors and their constituents have found a reasonable middle way allowing appropriate development and the consideration of alternatives that do their best to balance the needs of the community while not foreclosing the rights of property owners to appropriately develop their land.
We intend to continue to monitor the development of this process and where necessary and appropriate, advocate for the best interest of the Borough. Once an actual plan is submitted to South Hanover Township, and if there is an opportunity, the Borough will provide its comments in a manner designed to advance the interests of the residents.
Until then, Council will continue to focus on the many projects already underway within the Borough limits designed to improve our community.
Respectfully,
Mayor and Hummelstown Borough Council