Two sites that are likely candidates for the project are in the city, which doesn't have an ordinance specifically regulating data centers. According to the city, both of the sites are in a zoning district where data centers are permitted. That means if the developer complies with all other city ordinances, its plans are likely to be approved, regardless of any concerns residents may have about the project. In some cases across the country, opposition to data centers has included concerns about electricity and water consumption.
"As long as something complies with the law, even if everyone in town hates it, the municipality will have to approve it," said Brigitte Meyer, a staff attorney with environmental advocacy nonprofit PennFuture.
While CoreWeave won't say the exact location of its planned Lancaster County data center, one of its co-developers bought two industrial properties in the city earlier this year with plans to develop data centers. The former LSC Communications printing plants are on Harrisburg Pike next to Long's Park and on Greenfield Road near Route 30.
CoreWeave plans to build a 100 megawatt data center and possibly expand to 300 megawatts, which could demand massive amounts of electricity. A study commissioned by the Virginia General Assembly found that an 18 megawatt data center's power consumption is about the same as a mid-sized automobile assembly plant, 60 large commercial office buildings, or 4,500 homes.
City officials did not respond to requests for comment about potential data centers in the city this week. But a spokesperson for the mayor's office told LNP — LancasterOnline earlier this year that the city classifies the data centers as "wholesale trade and storage," a use allowed in the suburban manufacturing district where the sites are located.
If that holds true, the developer only needs to get land development plans approved by the city's planning commission, whose review is limited to interpreting city ordinances. Comment is allowed during its meetings, and before the county planning commission, which will make a recommendation on the plans.
Other options for public input could come when the developer seeks permits for stormwater runoff and construction from the state Department of Environmental Protection. PJM Interconnection, which manages the electrical grid in 13 states including Pennsylvania, will also hear a request for service from the project's electric utility at one of its stakeholder meetings, which are open to the public.
Local government is still the most effective place for the public to speak out, according to Emma Bast, another staff attorney at Penn Future.
"That aspect is the first and best place to approach input if you're concerned, because that's where you have more control than others," Bast said.
City council could still rush into place rules that would make it harder to use the two sites for data centers, since the developer has yet to file land development plans. But any rules adopted after those plans are filed won't apply to the project.
An outright ban on data centers would open up a municipality to a legal challenge from a developer. But municipalities do have the right to adopt ordinances giving them more control over the location, size and noise and water usage by data centers. Locally, Manor Township recently put limits on the size of data centers in a zoning amendment requested by High Real Estate Group, and it plans to add more regulations later this year.
Municipalities can require data center developers to go through a special exception hearing before the zoning hearing board, or a conditional use hearing before council, where neighbors would have the opportunity to present witnesses and cross-examine the developer's witnesses.
"If they don't have ordinances, all of that kind of goes out the window," Meyer said.
© 2025 LNP (Lancaster, Pa.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
