Hatfield Township in Pennsylvania has invoked interim zoning protections to pause data center development while officials draft permanent regulations, according to North Penn Now. The move gives the township time to establish standards before applications can proceed under existing, less restrictive rules. No specific projects were named as triggering the action.
Interim zoning protections have become a common tool for municipalities seeking to regulate data centers without waiting for state-level action, and Hatfield's approach adds to a growing list of local governments taking preemptive steps. The pattern suggests local zoning law is becoming a primary battleground for data center siting disputes across the country.
Named location Hatfield Township, regulatory action of invoking zoning protections, and the drafting of data center-specific rules triggered selection. The story reflects a recurring municipal pattern worth tracking independently of previously published moratorium stories.