Data Center Hearing: Let's Show Up and Make a Difference!

A Penn Forest Township Zoning Hearing Board meeting regarding Data Center Zoning is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:30 PM at the Penn Forest Fire Department #1. Background: there are now three challenges to Penn Forest Township Data Center Zoning. One was filed by the Mele Bros., who own the property designated as a possible data center site. They filed a Substantive Validity Challenge prior to the adoption of the new Data Center Overlay Ordinance because the zoning at that time did not provide for data centers as required by Pennsylvania State Law. The second challenge was filed by an adjacent property owner who claims that the Township engaged in “spot zoning” when it adopted the map for the new Ordinance. And now a third challenge has been filed. The third challenge alleges that the Penn Forest Board acted “capriciously and contrary to the purpose of the Township Zoning Ordinance” when they adopted the new data center regulations and demands that the new Ordinance be thrown out. If any of these three challenges succeed, it means that any development of a data center in Penn Forest Township would proceed with few restrictions on water withdrawals, with no strong noise abatement requirements, and that adjacent property owners would not be protected by the buffers and setbacks required in the new Data Center Ordinance. None of these challenges will stop the development of a data center in Penn Forest. The third challenge, alleging that the Board acted capriciously, is scheduled for a hearing before the Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:30 PM at the Penn Forest Fire Department #1, 1387 PA State Route 903 in Jim Thorpe. We urge concerned community members to attend, but first check the Penn Forest Township website or call the office, as these hearings have a history of being canceled.