Jul 8, 2026 By Conner Goetz 4 min read

Cecil Township moved another step closer to enacting a comprehensive ordinance regulating data center projects during a Monday night workshop.

The board of supervisors have discussed the best approach to regulating the high-tech industry since earlier this year, following a wave of outcry from residents across the county that began in fall 2025 after a large property in South Strabane Township was listed for sale as a prime location for a data center campus.

According to Supervisor Chairman Frank Egizio, the board “has to be cautious and look at the big picture” in order to adequately protect residents from potential harm relating to data center development.

During a previous public meeting on the matter in April, Supervisor Cindy Fisher emphasized that while the township has not received any applications for data center projects, the board had an obligation to work proactively to adopt an appropriate ordinance.

Township Solicitor Gretchen Moore said the first question to address is what regulatory approach to pursue.

According to Moore, the township has several options available: to amend the current zoning map to allow data centers in existing industrial areas; to rework the map to add a new zone type specifically for data centers; or to adopt an overlay district to supplant the current zoning map.

This choice will determine the specific provisions that can be included in the final adopted ordinance.

Moore said the township can consider different degrees of regulation for different sizes of data center projects.

Hyperscale data centers – which typically occupy over 1,000 acres in a freestanding campus of server buildings, cooling infrastructure and power generators – could be regulated with stricter limits than more compact projects that occupy existing office buildings, she said.

Egizio said a large data center should have a property line setback in line with existing township ordinances governing natural gas wells, which are 2,500 feet from protected structures such as homes and 5,000 feet from vulnerable properties like hospitals.

Another provision could be requiring data center developers to sign a community benefit agreement with the township where they pledge to give a certain percentage of their revenue back toward public goods, Egizio said.

According to Fisher, the township should “make sure we’re not selling our residents or their peace at their homes for a benefit to the township.”

Fisher also agreed that a 2,500-foot setback similar to the current oil and gas ordinance would be helpful.

Supervisor Tom Casciola said determining the placement of any data center-enabling zoning would be challenging.

“I can’t think of any areas (in Cecil Township) that aren’t already significantly residential,” he said.

Fisher said the township is under no obligation to carve out space for a hyperscale data center, although state law requires municipalities to allow zoning for legitimate business interests, which include data centers.

This means that the final adopted ordinance could only allow data center development in “a few buildings in Southpointe.”

“We don’t have to meet their needs,” Fisher said.

Township resident Lee Shaheen was the sole resident to address the board, commending members for their proactive regulatory efforts.

According to Shaheen, data center development is similar to the oil and gas industry that swept through the region in the 21st century.

“Like fracking, I never saw my gas bill go down, but I’m told if we bring this here you’ll get this benefit in return,” he said. “I hate to see the public being told that it’s for your benefit but it never materializes; it’s all smoke and mirrors. It’s really frustrating as a resident.”

Moore said she anticipates the board will discuss the matter throughout the year, with the goal of bringing a completed draft ordinance to the public for comment by the end of 2026.