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LOCK HAVEN -- The Clinton County Board of Commissioners passed a second resolution as its staff works to update its zoning ordinance related to data centers and other ancillary buildings.
The board took its first step in early July when it passed a resolution that set the work into motion.
County Planner/Engineer Steve Gibson during the board's work session this week said this second resolution addresses the need for a curative amendment to its zoning ordinance.
"Essentially the first resolution, which you passed, established that the zoning ordinance is substantially invalid because it's exclusionary. This next resolution essentially says 'we know its wrong, this is what we're going to do to fix it,'" Gibson said Monday morning.
He told the board they are still within their 180 day period to make the changes and "we're well on our way to fix that."
"We have some draft ordinances prepared for the public to review and planning commission review and then adoption by the commissioners in the next 60 days," he said.
There was no discussion regarding the resolution prior to its approval at Thursday's voting session.
Gibson previously told The Express, after the first resolution passed, this method was becoming a common approach to data centers and similar facilities that have begun appearing in the Commonwealth.
"The data center development is moving very quickly in Pa. because of its proximity to clean water, land, power/gas, internet and, most importantly, one-third of the population of the United States is within a short drive from Central Pa.," Gibson said at the time.
The amendments, he said, will prevent a developer from challenging the county if it were to prohibit the construction of a data center.
"Since our zoning ordinance does not specifically allow or prohibit data center development, a developer could legally challenge where they can and can't build a data center," he said earlier in the month. "In order to protect the citizens of Clinton County, the commissioners have decided to put a 180 day pause on data center applications that are in county jurisdiction, until an ordinance can be adopted."
The county's jurisdiction is only within Grugan, Gallagher, Noyes, West Keating and Logan townships. All other municipalities would need to adopt an ordinance or amend its current one and then adopt an updated version.
Gibson told The Express in early July the county's changes to its zoning ordinance can work as a "model" for other municipalities that wish to draft their own ordinance.