The West Rockhill Board of Supervisors Wednesday, April 15 approved an ordinance to regulate local data centers despite resident concerns about inadequate restrictions and the broader community impact.
The ordinance includes a definition of data centers and language regulating building structures, accessory uses and equipment. It notably requires centers to be partially powered by solar energy and served by public water and sewer and limits centers to the township’s industrial district adjacent to Hilltown Township and Telford Borough along State Road.
While an informal sketch plan for a data center at 215 Cathill Road was discussed at the Planning Commission’s October 14, 2025 meeting, the township has not yet received any formal data center applications. The ordinance will serve as a preemptive measure in advance of any future requests, said township solicitor David Keightly, who contended that the board cannot legally prohibit data centers under state law.
The move follows the proliferation of AI data centers across the nation, with facilities planned in Falls Township, Bucks County and Limerick Township in Montgomery County. The industry has encountered significant public resistance due to concerns about noise and air pollution, groundwater depletion and rising electricity costs, with recent applications in Conshohocken, Montgomery County and East Vincent, Chester County withdrawn or denied following community backlash.
The board approved the advertisement of the ordinance at its February meeting. The ordinance then underwent a 30-day review period by the township and county planning commissions. The township planners recommended a closed-loop water system to reduce water usage and discharge, capacity and time limits on water pumping and a 35-acre minimum lot size, among other suggestions. Bucks County planners recommended the ordinance’s approval, citing compliance with state law, said Keightly.
At Wednesday’s meeting, residents reiterated common concerns about excessive water and electricity usage and rising utility costs as well as the impact on the township’s rural character. They requested language clarifying and strengthening regulations on sound, wastewater disposal, enforcement mechanisms and more.
“These facilities draw large volumes of water from the local watersheds, which can significantly decrease our water levels, affecting nearby communities and ecosystems,” said one resident. “Some facilities use to up to 300,000 gallons per day on average. That’s equal to 1,000 homes.”
“My entire neighborhood is on well water,” said another resident. “The development and construction of data centers has been irrefutably linked to increased sediment, cloudy water and murky brown residue in residential wells in communities near data centers.”
“We know with data centers, there’s billion-dollar corporations behind them,” said a resident. “Even if there’s a nominal fine, they don’t matter, and it doesn’t regenerate our resources that have been depleted and the time it’s taken for them to not comply, if they ever comply.”
“The best thing about West Rockhill is the community and country,” added another resident. “It’s beautiful out here. If we end up with one of these, there’s light pollution, noise pollution, air pollution, things we don’t know yet. So please consider that.”
Following public comment, the board unanimously approved the ordinance, contending that any further delay could leave the township vulnerable to an unregulated data center proposal. However, board members promised to incorporate concerns from both residents and Planning Commission members as amendments to the ordinance at its next board meeting.
“Nothing’s ever gonna be perfect. We can continue to add amendments to this ordinance,” said board chairman Jay Keyser, who stressed that the ordinance is aimed at protecting the township. “I don’t think we can take the chance of not having something in place to leave ourselves open, for somebody to bring a plan in place before we have something adopted.”
“At least we’ll have the protections we have now and we can always amend them,” added Supervisor Hal Schirmer. “It’s kind of like putting up a Christmas tree and then we can add the ornaments later.”
The next West Rockhill Board of Supervisors meeting is on May 20 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit westrockhilltownship.org
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