Plymouth Township residents oppose proposed data center, developer challenges zoning
Tensions are escalating in Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania, over a proposed two-million-square-foot data center at the former Cleveland-Cliffs steel facility. The developer has filed a legal challenge against the township's zoning ordinance, which the Township Council calls an act of intimidation. Neighbors continue to oppose the project, and a special application hearing is scheduled for August 6th.
The fight over a proposed data center in Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania, is intensifying. Developer Brian O'Neill aims to transform the former Cleveland-Cliffs steel production facility at 900 Conshohocken Road into a nearly two-million-square-foot data center.
Initially, O'Neill submitted a special exception application to the Zoning Board, which is still pending. However, the developer has also filed a separate 'validity challenge,' asserting that the township's current zoning ordinance does not adequately accommodate data centers. This legal maneuver has drawn strong condemnation from the Plymouth Township Council, which released a video statement calling the challenge an 'act of intimidation' and vowing not to be bullied.
Neighbors, like artist Lisa Lukens, have been vocal in their opposition since last year, raising concerns about noise, vibration, and environmental runoff. The township council states they have engaged with developers, presenting a 43-point list to address resident concerns, but claims the developer has since rejected these provisions.
The ultimate decision lies with the independent Zoning Board. While a date for the hearing on the validity challenge has not yet been set, a hearing for the special exception application is scheduled for August 6th. Residents from Plymouth, Conshohocken, Whitemarsh, Bridgeport, and Norristown are encouraged to attend.