Residents and surrounding communities are getting their first look this week at proposed zoning changes — known as a data center curative amendment — that could reshape how future facilities are built in Falls Township.
The draft rules will be published on the township website by Friday and remain open for public review through Nov. 23, when the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to discuss them.
The changes stem from a legal tool known as a “curative amendment.” Township officials declared parts of the current zoning code invalid in July following widespread public pushback over data center development. Falls attorney Lauren Gallagher previously called it a “protective measure for any substantive validity challenge” that would potentially be filed within the 180-day period that the township has designated for review and possible changes to its zoning ordinance.
“It doesn’t go backwards,” Township Manager John Shepherd said at a recent meeting. “It goes forward.”
That distinction is key for locals. While the updated rules will govern any future data center proposals, they will not apply to the Amazon data center approved in March 2025, which is already under construction.
Supervisor Chairman Jeff Dence said officials are finalizing the proposed modifications before publishing them online. Following the board’s Nov. 23 discussion, the ordinance changes will be advertised publicly in December, with a final vote expected early next year.
Bensalem Township is going through the same process with regards to AI Data Center development. Officials are expected to release their draft version next month, officials said recently.
Click each attachment to view in its entirety:
Draft Ordinance – Chapter 209 – Data Centers