Springfield Township Data Center Ordinance Review Update for October 2026
Springfield Township’s review of its proposed data center zoning regulations is nearing another milestone. A four-member subcommittee has completed two meetings focused on strengthening the proposed ordinance, and a revised draft is expected to be available soon for Township and public review.
Planning Commission Chair Brian Galley confirmed the update in an October 21 email to Oko Environmental, stating that no additional subcommittee meetings are currently anticipated.
Who Is on the Subcommittee?
The subcommittee consists of four members:
- Brian Galley — Planning Commission Chair
- Kevin Sclesky — Township Trustee and Planning Commissioner
- Andy Donato — Planning Commissioner
- Brandon Boucher — Township resident and professional engineer
Boucher brings decades of experience involving data centers, information technology infrastructure, and power systems.
The group met on September 10 to review the proposed ordinance line by line and submit recommended revisions to Carlisle/Wortman Associates, the Township’s planning consultant.
During the September 22 Planning Commission meeting, Boucher shared several topics the subcommittee had discussed, including cooling systems, water consumption, on-site power generation, and protections intended to prevent data center-related infrastructure costs from being passed along to existing utility customers.
In his October 21 response, Galley explained that the subcommittee’s goal was:
“To get industry expert advice to draft the strongest legal data center ordinance for review and adoption by the Township through the legal process.”
Galley also confirmed that the subcommittee met twice and that no further meetings are anticipated at this time.
When asked about meeting records, Galley stated that there are no separate public notes beyond the working copy of the proposed ordinance being prepared by Carlisle/Wortman.
Ordinance Review: Developments Since July
Several developments have occurred since the Township began its latest round of ordinance revisions:
- July 9: The Township Board extended the temporary data center moratorium into December 2026.
- August 18: Carlisle/Wortman prepared a second draft of the proposed zoning ordinance amendments.
- August 25: The Planning Commission continued reviewing the proposed regulations. During the meeting, Mark Marion, speaking on behalf of Raves Development, stated that the company did not intend to develop a data center at 8300 Andersonville Road.
- September 10: The subcommittee met to review proposed ordinance language and recommend revisions.
- September 22: The Planning Commission received an update on the subcommittee’s work and the anticipated review process.
- October 21: Galley confirmed that the subcommittee met twice and that a final draft is expected soon.
What Happens Next?
According to Township planner Megan Masson-Minock’s September update, the revised ordinance was expected to undergo additional review by the Township Fire Department, Township Engineer, and Township Attorney. Galley’s October 21 correspondence indicates that the revised document should soon be ready for review by Township officials and the public.
Following the necessary reviews, the proposed amendments will proceed through the Township’s formal ordinance review and adoption process. No specific date for the release of the next draft or a public hearing has been confirmed.
Oko Environmental will continue following the ordinance review and sharing relevant documents as they become available.
Click to View Springfield Township Data Center Documents and Previous Updates
