The North Whitehall Township Board of Supervisors held its annual reorganization meeting Jan. 5.

Dennis Klusaritz was unanimously elected chairman of the board and Al Geosits was elected vice chairman.

The board also congratulated Richard Semel on his election as supervisor for the upcoming term.

Township Manager Randy Cope reported on a recent legal decision involving the proposed Nexus 78 warehouse development.

On Dec. 19, 2025, the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas upheld the township’s denial of the plan, accepting all nine arguments presented by the township.

The developer has until Jan. 18 to file an appeal.

Township staff also presented a proposed data center zoning ordinance under development for several months.

The ordinance was crafted by staff, the township manager and solicitors after reviewing regulations from municipalities across Pennsylvania and other states, including Virginia, where data centers are more common.

Officials noted Pennsylvania’s location within a major connectivity corridor has increased regional interest in data center development, making proactive planning important.

Under the proposal, data centers would be permitted only as a conditional use in limited zoning districts, primarily industrial areas.

The ordinance includes standards addressing potential impacts such as noise, water use, sewage, environmental concerns and electricity demand.

While no formal proposals for data centers have been submitted in North Whitehall, township officials said the conditional-use framework provides necessary oversight while reducing legal risk.

Following the discussion, the board unanimously voted to authorize advertising the ordinance.

The board also approved its 2026 meeting schedule, setting regular meetings for 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month, with the October meeting scheduled Oct. 13.

The change was intended to improve efficiency in financial reporting and allow additional preparation time for staff and the solicitor’s office.