People always say that real change starts at the local level. But understanding local government can be its own challenge. Supervisors, commissioners, boards, councils… it can feel like alphabet soup.
This page breaks down municipal government in Cumberland County as it pertains to the current discussions around data centers. This guide is meant to be a first place to start to understand municipal government as a whole here, as well as a jumping-off point so you can better understand how your township or borough makes decisions.
Cumberland County is made up of boroughs and townships.
The number of commissioners or supervisors depends on the township. You can look up your elected officials here: Cumberland County Elected Officials By County
While all these roles are elected positions with specific terms, they are generally part-time roles. Members may have other full-time jobs. Compensation is modest — often $1,000–$3,000 annually.
Responsibilities include:
In addition to elected officials, most townships have appointed bodies:
The planning commission reviews plans, applications, and proposed zoning changes and will provide recommendations to the board of supervisors. Members are appointed, not elected.
If you decide to attend one of the open, public meetings of the planning commission, keep in mind that the planning commission provides recommendations to the board of supervisors, but it does not itself make final rulings. For instance, if a plan comes before the planning commission, it could be because the board of supervisors specifically asked the planning commission to review it. The planning commission would not actually “approve” or “deny” the proposed plan; rather, they would make a recommendation to the board that the board “approve” or “deny” it.
In addition to the planning commission, the zoning hearing board functions like a quasi-judicial body, hearing appeals of zoning decisions, requests for variances and special exceptions. Members are also appointed.
Cumberland County also has its own planning department, which is separate from the planning departments of the boroughs and townships within. County Planning:
The delineation between county and municipal responsibilities is defined in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
Things you should know as a resident of a municipality:
Read more about this important legislation here: https://www.openrecords.pa.gov/SunshineAct.cfm
Pennsylvania municipalities guide development through two key planning tools: the Township Comprehensive Plan and Ordinances.
A Comprehensive Plan is a long-term planning document that outlines a community’s goals for land use, housing, economic development, environmental protection, etc. Comprehensive plans are typically developed by the planning commission using input from the public and approved by the Board of Supervisors. Townships then use these as a reference point for making decisions about zoning and land use.
In Pennsylvania, municipalities are encouraged to update this document regularly – at least every ten years. Note that Middlesex Township’s plan is out-of-date (from 2003) and the township is expected to begin reviewing and updating its Comprehensive Plan early in 2026, so if you are a resident, look out for communications from the township!
The legislative tool that townships use to regulate land use and zoning are ordinances, specifically the Zoning Ordinance and the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (sometimes referred to as “SALDO”).
The Zoning Ordinance dictates what land uses are allowed in different districts (Agricultural, Residential, Rural Resource, Commercial/Light Industrial, Industrial, etc.). These may be different depending on what kind of area you live in, but each zone specifies whether a particular “use” is permitted outright or requires extra review.
A “use” could be anything from “agriculture” to “sawmill” to “office buildings” to “antennas and broadcast equipment” to “kennel.” You’ll want to look at your municipality’s ordinances for specifics on these.
In any particular zone, any “use” might be generally allowed, allowed with conditions, or allowed by special exception only. These are terms you will hear a lot in conversations about data centers:
Currently, municipal legislation in Cumberland County doesn’t always account for data centers in any of these categories, which leaves a gap. Due to the expanded interest in this area, local municipalities’ boards may be making an effort to bring data centers into their ordinances and zoning laws in order to better respond should a proposed plan eventually come before them.
An overlay district is a zoning tool that applies additional rules on top of existing zoning for a particular area. The base zoning rules still apply, but the overlay adds more requirements or additional context. For example, an overlay could provide stricter ordinances to specifically protect wildlife or a natural resource, or it might grant special permissions in order to boost economic activity in a particular area.
It’s also good to know about the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (“SALDO”), which includes rules about how land can be divided and developed — roads, stormwater management, utility infrastructure, landscaping, etc.
Protect Cumberland County’s stance is that it is not inherently bad for townships to add language to their ordinances that spells out where data centers can go—Pennsylvania law requires municipalities to account for all possible land uses. The key is how they’re zoned. We believe data centers should be listed as a conditional use and allowed only in the most industrial zones—not in office parks, commercial districts, or anywhere near neighborhoods.
Depending on a township’s setup, data center proposals or zoning changes might pass through a board of supervisors or commissioners, the planning commission, and/or the zoning hearing board. As a resident, you have the right to attend these meetings, ask questions, and share your perspective.
The best time to influence outcomes is early in the process, before a specific plan hits the table. That’s when townships are still deciding which zones could allow a data center and whether it should be conditional or “by right.” If you see that conversation on an upcoming agenda, that’s your moment to show up, listen, and speak up.
For more details on why data centers should be zoned this way, head to About Data Centers in Cumberland County.
Middlesex Township has a data center build-out in progress. Learn more on our Middlesex Township page!
