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Silver Spring preserves 260+ acres, says no interest in pursuing data centers; board announces $1M LSA grant
Summary
Supervisor Laura Brown announced preservation of the 260+ acre Mervin Raudabaugh property and said the township has no interest in pursuing data center development; Chair Machamer also announced a $1 million LSA grant for Woods Drive intersection improvements.
Silver Spring Township supervisors announced the formal preservation of the Mervin Raudabaugh property — more than 260 acres — during the Jan. 5 reorganization meeting, after Mr. Raudabaugh declined a substantial offer from a data center developer.
Vice Chair Laura Brown said the township is committed to preserving farmland and denied social media assertions that stormwater fees have increased or that "secret meetings" occurred between township leadership and data center developers. She told the board residential stormwater fees remain $27 per quarter and that, while Township Manager Raymond Palmer and Solicitor Sean M. Shultz have received inquiries, "the unequivocal response from Silver Spring Township is that there is no interest in pursuing data center development."
Chair Carldon R. Machamer announced the township received a $1 million LSA (Local Share Account) grant for Woods Drive intersection improvements. The minutes show the board accepted the grant and thanked appointees sworn in earlier in the meeting.
Public comment reflected residents’ interest in transparency and land preservation. Richard Rosen asked the board to acknowledge the land-preservation efforts of Supervisors Lenker and Kotzmoyer; Vice Chair Brown explained she omitted them from remarks to avoid misrepresenting their work because she had not personally coordinated with them. Sue and Tom Miller requested the New Kingstown Vision Committee resolution be revised to allow non-Township residents — a change that would permit reappointment of Kathi Pifer.
The board also discussed but deferred a proposed PennDOT signal modification at the Rt. 114/Pipher Lane intersection: Township Manager Palmer estimated total permitting and construction costs at approximately $33,000 and said a warrant analysis and permit revision would be required; supervisors Lenker and Potteiger agreed to put the proposal on hold given low traffic volumes on Pipher Lane.
The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.
