Developer doubles down on data center plans
Developer Brian O'Neill of MLP Ventures is pressing forward with plans for large data centers in Plymouth and Upper Merion Townships, Pennsylvania, despite significant community and local government opposition. He has initiated legal challenges against Plymouth Township's zoning ordinance, asserting his right to build. Residents and officials cite concerns over environmental impact, health, and quality of life, while O'Neill highlights the economic benefits of the projects.
Philadelphia-area developer Brian O’Neill, founder of MLP Ventures, is determined to build data centers in Plymouth and Upper Merion Townships, Pennsylvania, despite strong resistance from local residents and government officials. O'Neill plans a 4.5-million-square-foot campus near King of Prussia in Upper Merion and a two-million-square-foot facility in Plymouth Township. These projects include on-site natural gas turbines and diesel backup generators.
Community members in both townships express concerns about potential impacts on health, utility bills, quality of life, and the environment, citing issues like air pollution, noise, light, and greenhouse gas emissions. Petitions opposing the projects have garnered thousands of signatures, and residents have actively participated in public meetings, offering emotional testimony. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has also condemned O’Neill’s approach, specifically his validity challenge to Plymouth Township’s zoning ordinance, calling it "the exact wrong way to do development."
O'Neill has filed legal challenges against Plymouth Township's zoning ordinance, which currently does not list data centers as a permitted use in heavy industrial districts, claiming it is exclusionary. He also submitted a special exception application. The Plymouth Township Council has expressed strong opposition to these moves, accusing O'Neill of intimidation. O'Neill, however, maintains his right to build and intends to "win it legally," emphasizing the economic benefits for the towns, including significant tax revenue for the Colonial School District.
Zoning decisions are ongoing, with the Upper Merion Planning Commission having voted against recommending some of O’Neill’s proposals, while the Board of Supervisors is set to consider the remaining ones. O’Neill has pledged to use the legal system to enforce his rights if necessary, viewing the developments as essential for the "technical revolution" driven by AI.