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Douglass Township board authorizes solicitor to begin withdrawal from regional planning commission
Summary
Board members voted to authorize their solicitor to take steps to withdraw from the Pottstown Metro Regional Planning Commission after a third‑party study named Douglass Township a 'right fit' for data centers without notifying the township; the move drew public support and was framed as a step to preserve local zoning control.
Douglass Township’s Board of Supervisors voted May 18 to authorize Solicitor Wendy McKenna to take the legal steps necessary for the township to withdraw from the Pottstown Metro Regional Planning Commission (PMRPC).
Chairman Josh Stouch said the board’s action followed receipt of an LTL study that, in the board’s view, listed Douglass Township as a “right fit” for data‑center development without having discussed the study or its findings with township officials. Stouch said the township’s zoning — not PMRPC endorsement — is what governs local land use, and he told the board he wanted to begin the formal withdrawal process.
Engineer Khal Hassan told the board that Douglass can be largely self‑sufficient for planning and technical review, and Solicitor McKenna said withdrawing requires a formal resolution and follow‑up steps. Supervisor Andrew Duncan and Manager David Thompson said the township’s planning alignment differs from PMRPC’s Pottstown focus, and several residents told the board during public comment that they supported withdrawal.
The motion to authorize the solicitor passed unanimously. McKenna will prepare and file the necessary notices and a resolution to effect withdrawal; the board did not adopt the final withdrawal resolution at the May 18 meeting.
Why it matters: PMRPC has provided regional planning coordination among several neighboring municipalities since 2005. The board framed withdrawal as a matter of local control and transparency after the LTL study named Douglass in connection with data‑center siting. The solicitor said there is an established process to withdraw and that the current motion is the first step.
The board did not direct any immediate zoning changes at the meeting. The township’s next regular Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for June 15, 2026.
Attribution: Chairman Josh Stouch initiated and supported the motion; Khal Hassan and Solicitor Wendy McKenna provided engineering and legal context. Residents who spoke during public comment signaled support for the board’s decision.
