Parkland administration briefs board on proposed Project Atlas data center; residents urge action over site near high school

At a workshop before the business meeting, Parkland School District administrators presented an administrative overview of "Project Atlas," a proposed hyperscale data center sited across Cedar Crest Boulevard from Parkland High School in South Whitehall Township.

Presenter Dr. Manson said the briefing drew from publicly accessible township materials and planning analyses. Slides and comments described the proposed initial plan as very large — roughly 5.1 million square feet across about 400 acres — and noted the plan in its current form includes an on‑site substation and many backup generators. The presenter told trustees the developer's materials reference diesel backup generators and that the packet included a developer sound study; the administration recommended an independent third‑party noise study and additional clarifications on power sourcing, wastewater treatment and hazardous‑materials storage.

"Based on what's proposed, we find the proposal to be unacceptable," the presenter said when summarizing the district's May 5 letter to the township and utility authorities. The administration said it had sent that letter to South Whitehall Township officials, Lehigh County Authority (LCA), PPL and the developer and would continue to monitor and engage as revised plans are filed.

Public concern and requests During public comment later in the meeting, multiple residents asked the board for a clearer and faster response. Speakers raised repeated concerns about the project's proximity to school buildings and athletic fields, potential low‑frequency noise ("the hum"), water consumption, traffic impacts if the private road becomes public, emergency access and the long‑term environmental and health impacts of on‑site mechanical systems and diesel generators. One commenter asked, "What immediate steps are being taken right now to ensure the safety, emotional well‑being and protection of students in the district?" (public comment by Laura Warmcast).

Administrators said the district has reviewed township materials, met with township staff and county planning staff, participated in webinars, hosted an educational workshop for the board that included outside experts, and sent the May 5 letter outlining the district's concerns. They emphasized that final land‑use approval rests with South Whitehall Township but said the district would continue to press for independent studies and mitigations and would request additional detail when the developer resubmits plans.

Project details presented (as described by district materials) - Rough scale: ~5.1 million sq ft (presented as equivalent to roughly 10 Parkland High School buildings). - Site: ~400 acres in the township overlay district. - Infrastructure: on‑site substation; backup generators mentioned (initial plan cited an initial total that the presenter described as "356 generators"). - Timing and revenues: presentation noted early, wide ranges for assessed value and tax revenue projections; a preliminary online timeline cited potential partial operation in 2028–2029 but administrators cautioned timelines and scales will likely change.

Next steps Administrators said they will continue to monitor South Whitehall Township filings, follow up with the developer to get more detail on the proposed project and request independent noise and environmental studies. The board and administration encouraged residents to stay engaged with township hearings and said they would return to the board with updates if and when a revised plan is filed.