Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Data Centers topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press supervisors on East Whiteland data-center plan as Charlestown adopts conditional-use pathway
Summary
At a public hearing the Charlestown Board adopted Ordinance 230-26 to permit data centers by conditional use; residents urged the Board to intervene in an East Whiteland Township data-center review, citing contamination concerns; the Board declined to claim standing and directed staff to post EWT materials online.
Charlestown residents voiced concern about a proposed data center being considered next in neighboring East Whiteland Township as Charlestown supervisors moved to create a conditional-use pathway for data centers within Charlestown.
At a hearing on April 6 Manager Chris Heleniak outlined a proposed zoning amendment that would add defined terms and permit data center facilities by conditional use in the township’s Industrial/Office/Business districts. After the public hearing the Board unanimously adopted Ordinance 230-26.
Several residents who came forward during the hearing urged Charlestown officials to take a more active role in the neighboring East Whiteland Township (EWT) review of an amended final plan scheduled for April 14. Julie Ferris urged the Board to attend EWT’s meeting and press environmental questions; Ferris said the site is “a superfund site due to lithium exposure even though the EPA claims the site was remediated.” Kelly Donia said she spoke with an EPA manager who told her the site “is OK now,” and Solicitor James E. McErlane suggested she ask that comment be provided in writing by the EPA contact.
Township officials and the solicitor cautioned supervisors against representing Charlestown in EWT because Charlestown lacks legal standing in the matter unless granted; Mr. Kuhn and other supervisors said they would not present a Township position before EWT. Instead the Board directed the Manager to post a link on Charlestown’s website to East Whiteland’s application materials so Charlestown residents could review documents and attend the EWT meeting if they wished.
Why it matters: Residents expressed health and environmental worries tied to past contamination at the site in East Whiteland and asked Charlestown to advocate on their behalf. Township officials said environmental oversight and remediation determinations fall to state and federal agencies (DEP/EPA) and that a neighboring township’s ordinance compliance is a separate jurisdictional matter.
What’s next: The East Whiteland Planning Commission review is scheduled April 14; Charlestown officials said they will not present a formal township position unless standing is granted but will post materials on Charlestown’s website for resident review.
