DAMASCUS TOWNSHIP, PA — At the August 17 meeting of the Damascus Township Board of Supervisors, there was continuation of the discussion concerning a data center ordinance for the Township.

Correspondence from Wayne County has been received on the ordinance. With that and the work of the township planning commission, whose work on this is largely finished, the following were discussed: 

• Damascus Township is a zoned municipality. 
• The ordinance could distinguish between “Mega Data Centers” and smaller or more-reasonably -sized facilities. 
• The ordinance will provide some guidelines on proposals for data centers that data tech or communication companies will need to be aware of if they want to submit a plan to open a data center in Damascus Township. 
• Any facility over 1500 square feet must be in the Industrial Zone, which is located adjacent to route 191. The size of Damascus Township is 80.9 square miles which is 51,785 acres. This is the largest township in Wayne County. There are approximately 200 acres in the Industrial zone. So, that is 0.39 % (less than ½ of 1%) of the land mass of the township. 
• Facilities must be no larger than 50,000 square feet. 
• Data centers are not permissible on lots with class 1 or class 4 soil (aka, farmland). 

The proposed ordinance will be available for view and review by the public by September 13. At the September 21 supervisors’ meeting, the public hearing will be scheduled. 

In other news

Employee Pensions 

Regarding Resolution # 2026-11: The motion has been passed. The township’s plans to participate in Pennsylvania Municipal Pension Trust will go forward. Full -time employees will be able to participate in the pension system. 

Road Work, Pipes, Bridges 

Henderson Road: no update 

Stone House Road: The Blacktop is completed. Pipe work to be completed imminently. 

Baker Hill Road: Motion to put out for Bids passed. 

Parks and Recreation: 

Walkway, volley-ball area, parking lot: weed control is ongoing. 

Township grounds: “No Pets” Signs are coming soon. 

No animals are allowed on the township grounds. This means horses, dogs, cats. This rule had been established quite some time ago, but signs are needed. 

For reasons such as waste, sanitation and poop, and the need to have these areas be child-friendly, dogs and other domestic animals are not permitted on trails, parks and township grounds. It was said that this needs to be reiterated by signage. 

The parks project phase two has been out for bids but the three bids received were too high. 

In addition, the upgrade of the park, parkside parking lot, playground and pavillion is imminent and these will be closed from October until approximately August 2027. Signs will be put up. The Pepperfest is scheduled for October 3 and will be held in the DMCC room rather than the pavillion due to the closure of the park and pavillion for the year. 

DMCC and Damascus supervisors seemed to agree that the township could move vehicles in order to have enough parking for the event on the day. This is important since there is no parking on the street on Conklin Hill Road. 

Planning Commission Reports to the Township 

Schuman zoning application 

Parcel on Schumann Road, being split into 4.22 acres lot and 5.3 acre lot. County letter received and drawings revised. Application approved. 

Wayne County Auto zoning application 

Changes proposed will be discussed at the hearing. 

Conditional Use Hearing set for Sept 21 at 6:30 pm at Township Building.Wayne County Auto zoning application.

DMCC (Damascus Manor Community Center) 

Recycling and the Pancake breakfast were on August 8, and both were a success. 40 people were served pancakes & breakfast, (Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon and Sausage, Apple Sauce, Coffee Tea Juice. 

On same day the Recycling bids were all full. 

Recycling is done, by drop-off, free of charge, on the 2nd Saturday of each month at the Damascus Twp Municipal Building 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon. The Community Pancake breakfast occurs at this time as well, from Spring through October. Both are at 60 Conklin Hill Rd, Damascus PA 18415 

Food Pantry served 21 families in July. 

The Damascus Food Pantry happens on the 3rd Thursday monthly from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and is sponsored by Wayne County PA