SUNBURY — Sunbury is bringing in outside experts to help city officials evaluate potential data center regulations as the community continues debating whether the developments should be allowed at all.
City Council unanimously approved hiring two independent consulting firms Wednesday to advise the city on land use, zoning, noise and other issues associated with data centers.
Planning firm MKSK will help officials evaluate land-use and zoning considerations, including setbacks, screening, buffering and lighting — several issues residents have raised during months of public discussion.
A second firm, HGC Noise Vibration Acoustics, will focus specifically on noise and vibration associated with data centers.
City Manager Daryl Hennessy said HGC is tentatively scheduled to participate in an October special meeting, where representatives would discuss low-frequency noise, potential mitigation measures and recommendations that could eventually be incorporated into the city’s zoning code.
“In both instances, these are independent firms,” Hennessy said. “They did not assist us in drafting the current limited industrial zoning district. They would come to this with a fresh set of eyes.”
The consultants are the latest step in Sunbury’s ongoing review of data centers after a proposed development prompted significant public opposition earlier this year.
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Sunbury has submitted a proposed charter amendment prohibiting data centers to the Delaware County Board of Elections.
Hennessy said the city submitted the measure July 21 and checked with elections officials Wednesday on its status.
“They confirmed they do,” Hennessy said of whether the board had everything it needed from the city. “At this point, they’re running the proposed language through the prosecutor’s office.”
The city has completed its portion of the process, Hennessy said, and is now waiting for the measure to move through the remaining steps necessary to appear on the ballot.
Sunbury will also send residents notice of the proposed charter change, similar to the notification process the city used for a charter amendment last year.
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Another public meeting coming Aug. 27
The city will continue its public discussion with a second special City Council meeting dedicated to data centers at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27.
Hennessy said the meeting will include presentations on different types of data centers and recent industry trends, land-use and zoning best practices and the potential economic development impacts of the proposed development.
A location for the meeting had not been finalized as of Wednesday.
MKSK is also expected to participate in that discussion, giving council information on potential zoning regulations before officials determine what changes, if any, should be made to the city’s code.
The noise consultant is expected to follow in October, allowing the city to take a closer look at another concern residents have repeatedly raised.
Both firms could ultimately help Sunbury develop recommendations for changes to its zoning code — even as voters decide whether data centers should be allowed in the city in the first place.
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