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The Antis Township supervisors Thursday held a hearing on a proposal for a subdivision and land development ordinance (SALDO) amendment designed to ensure that data centers don't create problems for the community.
There was no public comment, but due to a suggestion from the Blair County Planning board to include decommissioning provisions and due to additional tweaks discussed Wednesday, the supervisors tabled the proposal and will likely pass a revised SALDO next month.
In contrast to Taylor Township, which is expecting a big crowd for a data center SALDO hearing Thursday, and which is entertaining a so-far informal data center proposal, Antis drew no public comments at its hearing and has no pending proposal for a center to worry about, according to township Manager Doug Brown.
"(But) it's good practice to be prepared," Brown said. "We don't want to get caught with our pants down."
The proposed ordinance amendments are based on examinations of SALDOs in other municipalities and model ordinances produced by agencies, and they include provisions governing how data centers would acquire their electricity, how they would use water for cooling the computer banks they operate and the noise levels they produce, according to Brown.
The township will need to advertise next month's meeting, but won't need to hold another formal public hearing, like the one held Thursday that fulfilled a requirement of the state's Municipalities Planning Code for when SALDOs are amended, according to township solicitor Patrick Fanelli and Brown.
While data centers have stirred opposition in municipalities throughout the country, no such general opposition so far has materialized in Antis, Brown said.
E-bike rules considered
In keeping with actions being taken by municipalities in many areas, Brown plans to discuss potential regulation of e-bikes within the Bellwood-Antis Community Park and on trails in the area with officials from Bellwood Borough, which is surrounded by the township.
He intends to come up with a regulatory plan, Brown said. That won't necessarily include use of the newly popular vehicles on township roads, as the township lacks a police department, he said.
The issue with e-bikes is "the sheer number" being ridden nowadays, Brown said.
In other business, the township will receive $98,000 in Community Development Block Grant money this year, and will use it for sewer laterals for low-to-moderate-income households.
Six of those laterals will be installed on Rossman Road and 12 on Kingdom Street in Tipton, according to Blair County CDBG coordinator Trina Illig.
An additional $21,000 of the township entitlement will go to the county for administration of the funds.
The township expects to open bids next month for replacement of the HVAC system in its municipal building, Brown said.
A $220,000 Local Share Account (LSA) grant should pay the entire cost, Brown said.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.