u/bambambootyhole

Wednesday, June 24th at 5:45pm at City Council Chambers, 435 Hamilton St

Special City Council meeting to review amendments to Bill 20. After City Council agreed that the ordinances were not as strong as they could be last week and still passed Bill 20 as is, they will now start the lengthy process to strengthen it. Once again, here is the link to read current Bill 20

PA Stands Up has written talking points for the June 24th meeting

EXAMPLES OF STRONG ORDINANCES TO PULL FROM TO AMEND OURS:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XrHDCk9YCb8M4mN-Zun1KWM9slNvTBM1/view

https://www.luzernecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/47756/20260308\_LCPC\_Zoning\_Ordinance\_Amendment\_1\_of\_2026\_V4

GENERAL TOPICS:

Our ordinance be stricter about zoning requirements, rather than 'use by right' we should specify 'special exception use'

Our ordinance should include rules around when the public should be made aware of applications

LOCATION & PLACEMENT:

It currently only requires 200 foot setbacks from homes which greenlights the Emaus Ave project. Ordinances are being passed across the state with as high as 2500 foot setbacks.

Our ordinance should ban data centers from being built near schools, places of worship, parks, or hospitals

Our ordinance should require traffic and transportation studies and then implementation plans for ensuring transportation is not disrupted

NOISE/LIGHT:

Our ordinance should define noise limits

Our ordinance should require noise testing

Our ordinance should have a process for community members to file noise complaints

Our ordinance should regulate external lighting

CONSTRUCTION/DECOMMISSION:

Our ordinance should include decommissioning requirements

Our ordinance should include provisions requiring the developer to restore the land as a natural area with a decommissioning fund if the data center is decommissioned

Our ordinance should require the fire department and their equipment to be tested to make sure they have what they need for data center-specific emergencies like lithium-ion battery fires and electrical system failures

ENVIRONMENTAL/WATER:

Our ordinance should provide specifics on the size, interval, and types of plants for a landscape buffer

Our ordinance should require that data center applicants submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that would show all the possible environmental impacts of the data centers and solutions for all the identified problems. These issues include things like air quality, soil quality, surface water quality, groundwater sources, impacts on wildlife including endangered & threatened species, and increased temperatures around the data center.

Our ordinance should require water usage reports to be done and transparent to the public

ENERGY:

Our ordinance should have strict rules and requirements for how much of the energy used should be from renewable energy sources

Our ordinance should require electricity usage reports to be done and transparent to the public

Our ordinance should have strict regulations around backup generators and emissions, like rules around meeting emission standards, when generators should be used and tested, and how fuel is stored and prevented from spilling

Our ordinance should have strict rules around how hazardous materials would be used, stored, or generated.

If you cannot attend this meeting in person, here is the link to the live stream of the council meeting    (click link under VIDEO for June 24th)

If you cannot attend this meeting in person, PLEASE EMAIL CITY COUNCIL. You can copy and paste the verbiage from above. EMAIL citycouncil@allentownpa.gov and zoning@allentownpa.gov

Allentown Data Centers & Bill 20

Allentown City Council Meeting

6/17 at 6:30pm at Allentown City Hall (435 Hamilton Street, Allentown)

City Council is revisiting Bill 20, which you can read here-

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mc78drbmlsrWLaZ7oOOBnhlOyn5Dlyz\_/view

This bill in its current verbiage is dangerous and would open the door to hyper scale data centers, arguably a heavy industrial use, in our IG district which is currently restricted to only light and medium impact industrial uses. We are pushing instead to pass an 180 day municipal curative amendment, which is a legal mechanism that’s been supported and passed by councils, boards, and solicitors in dozens of municipalities across PA. We are pushing for them to reject Bill 20 and pass a resolution to enact a 180 day municipal curative amendment to hit pause on any new data center proposals and give us time to create a stronger ordinance.

WE NEED YOU TO SHOW UP! If you care about where data centers can go and the rules they have to abide by within the city of Allentown, push to reject Bill 20 and pass the curative municipal amendment instead. There will be time for city council to hear from the public for specific comments on Bill 20.

Hope to see you there. I cannot stress the importance of your presence in the City Council room and ask that if you can stay through the vote on Bill 20, please do.

Anyone know a good supplier for MDO board in the area? Would need some 4x8ft sheets. Thanks!

So freaking annoyed with some thrift store pricing these days. I make multiple bouquets with flowers from my garden for the moms in my life and I source vases from the thrift store. What used to be .99$ each is now almost $5. And I don't mean for like the cute vintage vases, it's for like basic clear glass. It's ridiculous. Especially when one I saw, you can literally buy at the dollar general for $1. So frustrating. Anyways- happy mothers day 😂💐

This lag has me feeling like the 2000s just slamming the computer keys hoping shit goes through 😭