Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Data Centers topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board appoints curative-amendment working group as residents raise data center, transparency and energy concerns
Summary
East Whiteland supervisors named members of a working group to rewrite zoning rules for data centers after declaring the relevant zoning provisions invalid; residents at public comment urged greater transparency and warned of environmental and energy impacts from proposed developments.
The East Whiteland Township Board of Supervisors on May 13 announced the participants of a curative-amendment working group charged with redrafting the township zoning provisions that govern data centers and power generation.
Chair Scott Lambert moved to appoint Tony Gianino, Steve Michelson, Carol Abramson and Mike Malter (from the Environmental Advisory Council); the motion was seconded by Clinton Smith and passed unanimously. Assistant Township Manager Catherine Ricardo reminded the Board that the April 27 special meeting declared the Zoning Ordinance invalid “as it pertains to providing for data centers and power generation in any zoning district,” triggering the need for a curative amendment and a staffed working group.
The announcement drew extended public comment. Rebecca Harrison told the Board she was “frustrated with the curative amendment process,” criticizing the selection criteria for working-group members and urging better transparency and communication with residents. Several speakers, including Richard Wall and other neighbors, expressed distrust of the Township’s relationship with developers and questioned whether past and current proposals — including references to Sentinel and Green Fig plans — had been adequately reviewed.
Residents raised environmental and energy-use concerns about potential projects on former industrial properties. Anuka Capsi urged the Board to reject a proposed data center at the former Foote Mineral site because of risks including air and noise pollution and water demand. Namita Capsi told the Board that “while current plans reference 300 megawatts, information on the developer's website indicates a potential expansion to 600 megawatts,” a claim she said would exceed residential energy usage in Chester County; the Board did not verify that figure during the meeting.
Tony Gianino, one of the appointees, thanked the Board and said he intends to work collaboratively with officials and residents as the group begins drafting ordinance language. Chair Lambert noted the Township has purchased open space properties and is actively pursuing additional open-space preservation opportunities, and he said he wants to learn more about a pending transaction that could affect the matter before taking a position on a specific proposal.
Next steps: the working group will include Township staff and professionals and will draft proposed ordinance language for the Board’s consideration. No ordinance changes were adopted at the meeting; public concerns about transparency, environmental impacts and energy demand remain unresolved and are likely to be central in the working group’s work.
