Upper Mount Bethel board votes to transmit data-center support letter after amendment

The Upper Mount Bethel Township Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on an amended motion May 12 to transmit a letter of support for a proposed Data Center Campus at River Point Logistics Center LLC.

Supervisor Bermingham read a draft letter prepared by the township's outside land-use counsel and Supervisor Friedman initially moved to authorize its execution conditioned on the withdrawal or termination of litigation involving RPL. Supervisor Eckman offered an amendment to “just vote on the letter as read,” which the board approved and then passed the motion to transmit the letter, 5-0. The transcript records the board's vote but does not include specific conditions attached to the transmitted letter after the amendment.

Several members of the public addressed data centers during the meeting. Charles Cole urged the board to ensure adequate community resources before supporting data-center development, and Ron Angle asked whether professional negotiators had been engaged. The board discussed litigation related to the proposal earlier in the meeting and noted the township's outside counsel prepared the draft letter.

The board did not record additional negotiating terms in the meeting minutes. No formal development agreement, zoning action, or contract award related to the data center was approved at this meeting; the action recorded in the minutes is limited to transmitting the letter the board read and approved.