Narrative Summary
Summary
York County County Council convened a Special Called meeting on February 6, 2026, with five of seven members present. The sole substantive item was the first reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 155 of the Zoning Code to require a special exception for data center uses in Light Industrial and Industrial Development zoning districts. Council discussed a range of conditions for data centers including setbacks, bufferyards, equipment screening, building facades, sound and vibration mitigation, and cooling systems. Staff was directed to conduct extensive additional research on power, environmental, and infrastructure considerations ahead of further readings. The ordinance requires three readings and a public hearing, scheduled for March 16, 2026.
Key Decisions & Votes
- First Reading — Ordinance to Amend Chapter 155, Subchapter C (Data Center Special Exception) — Motion to approve first reading of an ordinance requiring a special exception for data center uses in Light Industrial and Industrial Development zoning districts. Vote: 5-0, approved. Two additional readings and a public hearing remain before final adoption.
- Adjourn — Motion to adjourn the meeting. Vote: 5-0, approved.
Watchlist Flags
- Rezoning: Council to Consider First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 155: Zoning Code, Subchapter C: Use Regulations to Require a Special Exception for Data Center Uses in the Light Industrial and Industrial Development Zoning Districts — Council approved the first reading of a zoning code amendment that would add a special exception requirement for data center uses in Light Industrial and Industrial Development districts, with conditions governing site design, noise, and environmental impact.
> "Council considered amendments to zoning regulations requiring special [exception for data center uses in light industrial and industrial development districts, with conditions relating to setbacks, bufferyards, equipment screening, building facades, sound and vibration mitigation, and cooling systems.]"
Action Items & Upcoming Dates
- Staff to research isolating ID classification for data centers.
- Staff to research grid capacity (current and future), power source, carbon footprint, water usage and cooling systems, groundwater well avoidance, air quality, light and noise, exit/decommissioning strategy, and general building uses for data centers.
- Staff to research infrastructure cost considerations, utility provider support letters, and groundwater well restrictions for data centers.
- March 16, 2026 — Public hearing on ordinance to amend Chapter 155: Zoning Code for Data Center Uses (second reading also expected).
Agenda Items
-
1
Council to Consider First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 155: Zoning Code, Subchapter C: Use Regulations to Require a Special Exception for Data Center Uses in the Light Industrial and Industrial Development Zoning Districts
Council considered amendments to zoning regulations requiring special exceptions for data center uses in light industrial and industrial development districts, with conditions relating to setbacks, bufferyards, equipment screening, building facades, sound and vibration mitigation, and cooling systems. The ordinance will require three readings and a public hearing, scheduled for March 16, 2026.
- Outcome
- approved
- Motion
- Motion to approve
- Moved / seconded
- Tom Audette / Ansel Watts Huckabee Sr
- Vote
- 5-0
- Source ref
- range: pp.1-2
- Tags
- zoning data centers ordinance special exception industrial development
-
Adjourn
Motion to adjourn the meeting.
- Outcome
- approved
- Motion
- Motion to adjourn
- Moved / seconded
- Tom Audette / Ansel Watts Huckabee Sr
- Vote
- 5-0
- Source ref
- page: p.2
- Tags
- None
Votes
-
Council to Consider First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 155: Zoning Code, Subchapter C: Use Regulations to Require a Special Exception for Data Center Uses in the Light Industrial and Industrial Development Zoning Districts
Motion to approve
- Vote
- 5-0
- Outcome
- approved
- Source ref
- range: pp.1-2
-
Adjourn
Motion to adjourn
- Vote
- 5-0
- Outcome
- approved
- Source ref
- page: p.2
Public Hearings
-
Ordinance to Amend Chapter 155: Zoning Code for Data Center Uses
Public hearing scheduled for March 16, 2026. Council welcomes citizens and stakeholder comments.
- Speakers
- None recorded
- Source ref
- page: p.2
Action Items
-
Research isolating ID for data centers
- Owner
- Staff
- Due
- Source ref
- page: p.2
-
Research grid capacity (now and future), actual power source, carbon imprint, water usage/cooling systems/avoiding wells, air quality, light and noise, exit/decommissioning strategy, and general building uses for data centers
- Owner
- Staff
- Due
- Source ref
- page: p.2
-
Research infrastructure cost considerations, utility provider support letters, and groundwater well restrictions for data centers
- Owner
- Staff
- Due
- Source ref
- page: p.2
Upcoming Dates
-
Public hearing on ordinance to amend Chapter 155: Zoning Code for Data Center Uses
- Date
- 2026-03-16
Watchlist Flags
-
Council to Consider First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 155: Zoning Code, Subchapter C: Use Regulations to Require a Special Exception for Data Center Uses in the Light Industrial and Industrial Development Zoning Districts
- Category
- rezoning
Uncertainty Notes
-
no_schema_validation
- Field
schema_version- Value
- Not applicable
- Note
- Schema is 0.1.0-draft; final validation must happen downstream in Codex.
-
vote_granularity
- Field
facts.agenda_items[*].vote- Value
- Not applicable
- Note
- Approved minutes record tallies but not per-member dissent.