Public hearing set for turning over some Salem Twp. streets to data center

Salem Township supervisors are preparing for a public hearing to gather input on a petition from QTS Salem. The petition requests the acquisition and vacation of parts of three township streets—Market Street, Kiliti Road, and Moskaluk Road—for inclusion in the QTS Data Centers campus. The proposed plan includes QTS constructing cul-de-sacs and a new section of roadway connecting Market Street with Denn's Road. Following the public hearing, the supervisors may consider voting on an ordinance to establish the vacating of the roads.

QTS previously acquired approximately 1,700 acres of land from property owners for $580 million, a deal negotiated with 4-3 Consultants. The proposed road vacation has drawn concerns from residents like Gerard Olenick, who lives near an Amazon Web Services data center and shared observations of "constant noise, dirt and traffic" from data center construction. Olenick questioned the benefits for the township in giving up its roads, referring to the project's developers as "AI overlords."

Township solicitor Tony McDonald indicated that QTS is likely to pay the township around $23 million through a community partnership agreement, in addition to compensating the township for 10 years of Liquid Fuels Tax money for road maintenance. However, Olenick expressed skepticism, believing the streets are being relinquished for "chump change" compared to QTS's substantial land investment.