Officials in East Manchester Township, Pennsylvania, are considering a data center rezoning proposal.

If adopted, the proposal would amend the zoning ordinance of the Township to create a “new agricultural innovation district and to provide for the regulation of data centers.”

This ‘agricultural innovation’ district would “encourage data center development on large lots near the artificial and natural resources necessary for the construction,” and would apply to a land parcel located between Wago Road and Board Road.

The township was supposed to host a public meeting regarding the proposal during a board of supervisors meeting on Tuesday, but supervisors voted to postpone it because the venue could not accommodate all those who wished to voice an opinion.

It is also unclear whether the township is currently assessing a proposal for a data center.

East Manchester Township is located between the cities of Harrisburg and York in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Demand for data center services has pushed operators to look into emerging data center markets across the US, forcing some local authorities and communities unfamiliar with data centers to amend or supplement planning regulations that often do not include ‘data centers’ as a disparate land use case.

Many townships across Pennsylvania have had to face these challenges as a result of interest from data center developers and investors. In the case of East Vincent Township, located near Philadelphia, officials will soon consider whether to approve an ordinance that would impose tighter regulations pertaining to any future data centers.