South Hanover Township Data Center (HCI DP Land Acquisition, former Pennsy Supply quarry)

Texas developer seeks data centers on a former quarry in South Hanover Township

Developer

HCI DP Land Acquisition LLC, a Texas-based company (PennLive) that the local opposition group identifies as The Hanover Company, a Houston real estate developer.

Tenant

No tenant named

Current stage

HCI's special exception application and its challenge to the township's zoning were set for a Zoning Hearing Board hearing on August 17, 2026. The applicant's attorney asked for a continuance, and the township's public notices page lists a notice of hearing pause and a letter to the Zoning Hearing Board about an indefinite extension. The supervisors voted 5-0 on July 1 to advertise a data center overlay ordinance and announced an August 11 hearing, but the minutes through September 22 record no hearing or adoption vote. The supervisors continue to meet in executive session about litigation involving the data center ordinance.

Decision body

South Hanover Township Zoning Hearing Board (special exception and validity challenge); South Hanover Township Board of Supervisors (data center overlay ordinance)

Top issues

Private wells and groundwater, Swatara Creek and the quarry water, noise and backup generators, building height, residential parcels included in the draft overlay, setbacks, light, decommissioning bonds, property values, and nearness to Three Mile Island raised in public comment

Key opponents

Protect South Hanover PA; Supervisor Kevin Busher said on June 23 that the supervisors plan to oppose the project at the Zoning Hearing Board

Key supporters

None identified in the record we read

• 2026-01-27The supervisors' January 27 meeting packet included a draft data center ordinance marked for advertisement. South Hanover Township
• 2026-06-08The Hanover Company emailed the township a noise study for its Hummelstown project. South Hanover Township
• 2026-06-23The township received HCI's special exception application for a data center on the 249.5-acre former quarry and a challenge to the township's zoning covering a larger area. Local21 News (WHP)
• 2026-06-23At a packed meeting, Supervisor Kevin Busher said the project will likely go to the Zoning Hearing Board and the supervisors plan to oppose it. South Hanover Township
• 2026-07-01At a special meeting with 23 public speakers, the supervisors voted 5-0 to advertise a data center overlay ordinance, pending revisions. South Hanover Township
• 2026-07-14The manager announced an August 11 hearing on the data center ordinance and said the Zoning Hearing Board would hear HCI's two submissions on August 17. South Hanover Township
• 2026-07-28The township solicitor reported that the data center applicant's attorney asked for a continuance and the request was before the Zoning Hearing Board's solicitor. South Hanover Township
• 2026-08-11The supervisors' agenda and minutes for the announced hearing date show no ordinance hearing or vote, and residents asked again that residential parcels be removed from the overlay. South Hanover Township
• 2026-08-25The solicitor said a colleague, Jim Diamond, has handled the data center case and there was nothing substantive to report, as residents referred to the developer's pause. South Hanover Township
• 2026-09-08Supervisor Kevin Busher said the board shouldn't support any data center ordinance until a public town hall forum is held. South Hanover Township
• 2026-09-21Protect South Hanover PA started a petition asking the township to remove residential properties from the overlay and asking the state for a moratorium. Change.org
• 2026-09-22The supervisors met in executive session on potential litigation over the data center ordinance, and residents spoke about the paused data center proposal and a pending warehouse application. South Hanover Township

• 2026-06-23
  Special exception application South Hanover Township Zoning Hearing Board · n/a

  Asks for a special exception to allow a data center on the 249-acre former Pennsy Supply quarry in the Industrial Park District.

  HCI DP Land Acquisition LLC; South Hanover Township · Hearing set for August 17, 2026, then continued at the applicant's request; the township's public notices page lists a notice of hearing pause
• 2026-06-23
  Validity challenge to the zoning ordinance (PennLive called it a variance request) South Hanover Township Zoning Hearing Board · n/a

  Argues the township's zoning violates Pennsylvania law by leaving out data centers and asks to allow a data center on a larger property, including the 249-acre Wagner Avenue tract and a 0.01-acre Grandview Road parcel.

  HCI DP Land Acquisition LLC; South Hanover Township · Hearing set for August 17, 2026, then continued at the applicant's request; the township's public notices page lists a notice of hearing pause

• 2026-07-02 GovTech (from PennLive)Data Center Law Proposal Draws Crowd in Dauphin County, Pa.Covers the 5-0 vote to advertise the overlay ordinance and describes the two buildings, the substation and HCI's 496 acres of equitable ownership.
• 2026-06-23 CBS 21 NewsDeveloper submits applications for multiple data centers in Dauphin CountyReports the township received HCI's two applications and a line of residents stretched out the door.