COLUMBIA, Pa. — The Columbia Borough Planning Commission is set to review a proposed zoning amendment Tuesday night that would prohibit data centers in the Borough’s Light Business (LB) zoning district and limit future projects to industrial areas through a conditional use approval process.
The proposal follows a closely divided 4-3 vote by Columbia Borough Council on July 14 to advance the ordinance for further review. If ultimately adopted, the measure would amend the Borough’s zoning code by changing data centers from a permitted use in the Light Business district to a prohibited use, while allowing them only as a conditional use in the Light Industrial (LI) and General Industrial (GI) districts.
Under the ordinance, any future data center proposed within industrial zones would still require Borough approval through a public conditional use process, allowing officials and residents an opportunity to evaluate potential impacts before a project could move forward.
Major Impact on McGinness Property
The proposed ordinance has drawn significant attention because it could directly affect the future of the former McGinness Airport property along Manor Street. The site is currently zoned Light Business, meaning a data center would no longer be permitted there if the zoning change becomes law.
Supporters of the amendment argue that data centers are more appropriately classified as industrial uses due to their infrastructure requirements and should be located in areas already designated for industrial development. They also contend that removing data centers as an option may make it easier to market the McGinness property for other forms of redevelopment.
Councilman Ethan Byers, who introduced the ordinance, has stated that he believes the Borough should move forward without data centers as a development option for the McGinness site and focus on attracting alternative investment opportunities.
Economic Development Debate
The ordinance has become a focal point in a larger discussion about Columbia’s future growth and development strategy. Opponents of data center development have raised concerns about land use, infrastructure demands, and whether such facilities provide sufficient long-term community benefits. Supporters of the zoning change argue that business-zoned properties should be reserved for projects that generate more jobs and align more closely with community development goals.
Others, however, have questioned whether restricting data centers could reduce future investment opportunities and economic flexibility. Critics have suggested the ordinance may simply shift potential projects elsewhere within the Borough rather than addressing broader concerns about data center development.
Next Steps
Before the ordinance can take effect, it must continue through the review process, including consideration by the Planning Commission and other required planning agencies. Borough officials have also indicated that additional discussions regarding more comprehensive data center regulations could occur later this year.
The Planning Commission is scheduled to discuss the proposal during its July 21 meeting at the Paul W. Myers Council Chambers. According to the meeting agenda, the review of the data center ordinance is the commission’s only listed action item.
For now, the proposed amendment represents one of the most consequential land-use decisions facing Columbia Borough, with the potential to shape how and where major technology-related development occurs in the years ahead.
