East Rockhill Township News.
The East Rockhill Board of Supervisors Tuesday, March 24 advanced an ordinance to regulate data centers in the township.
The ordinance, nearly identical to one under consideration in West Rockhill Township, includes a definition of data centers and language regulating building structures, accessory uses and equipment. It restricts data center construction to the township’s industrial districts at the Pennridge Airport and requires a 50-acre minimum lot size.
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rising electricity costs, with recent applications in Conshohocken, Montgomery County and East Vincent, Chester County withdrawn and denied following community backlash.
While East Rockhill has not yet received a data center application, the ordinance will serve as a preemptive measure in advance of future requests, said township solicitor Will Oetinger, who argued that the board cannot legally prohibit data centers.
“Pennsylvania has to allow for every legitimate use of land,” said Oetinger. “So it’s not permitting data center development; it’s putting reins on data center development by enacting a ordinance.”
During the board’s exchange, members expressed opposition to the ordinance’s proposed 60-foot height limit, well above the township’s standard 35-foot height limit.
“I don’t like 60-feet,” said Supervisor Jim Nietupski. “I don’t want some behemoth that’s twice the size of everything else.”
In response, Oetinger argued that a lower height limit could preclude data center development and trigger a legal challenge.
“We’re trying to thread the needle between having restrictions that are feasible for the development,” said Oetinger. “If you couldn’t develop a data center under 60-feet, then we would be effectively precluding it and might be opening the door to even greater heights.”
After some discussion, the board agreed to compromise on a 45-foot height limit.
“If they want to challenge us, they can,” said Supervisor Gary Volovnik.
Following the board’s discussion, Mark Ezzo of Hill Road, a veteran of the computer consulting business, warned board members against the admission of data centers into the township, arguing that they “steamroll” local municipalities and dramatically raise utility costs for residents.
“They don’t care about the residents; they’re there to make money, period,” said Ezzo. “And the reason they want more height is because a data center is nothing but servers. The higher they can go, the more servers they can put in.”
“With every data center that comes up, many people will lose their jobs as well. I know they deny it, but we in the business know that it’s gonna be true,” Ezzo added. “I would worry less about how they’re gonna challenge you, and worry more about how you are gonna restrict them.”
In response, Supervisor Dave Nyman reiterated Oetinger’s claim that the board cannot legally prohibit data centers, which Ezzo quickly disputed.
“You can say ‘no,’” Ezzo retorted. “If I want to put a waste pond in my yard, you can say ‘no’ because it’s a danger to other people. This could be a terrible hardship on the township.”
The ordinance will now be referred to the township and county Planning Commissions for a 30-day review period.
Single-family-home development
The board granted conditional final approval to a 21-lot single-family-home development at 1622 Seven Corner Road, with 17 lots in Hilltown Township and four lots in East Rockhill.
While the developer sought full sewer service by East Rockhill’s sewer system to avoid installing grinder pumps on the Hilltown lots, the board conditioned its approval on the service of the Hilltown lots by Hilltown’s sewer system due to concerns about higher rates for East Rockhill residents.
The move allows the applicant to submit a revised final plan for sewer approval.
The board also recognized the Perkasie Volunteer Fire Company, which has responded to over 100 calls and three house fires in 2026 thus far, and appointed Mary Martin as a second alternate to the Zoning Hearing Board.
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