Residents pack Midland Borough meeting over proposed data center zoning change
Residents in Midland Borough, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, packed a meeting to oppose a proposed zoning change that would allow a developer to build a data center. Neighbors expressed concerns about water, air resources, and noise. The borough leaders referred the issue to the borough and county planning commissions to schedule a public hearing on September 10th.
Midland Borough residents gathered en masse at a borough meeting to voice their opposition to a proposed zoning change that would facilitate the construction of a data center. The contentious meeting concluded with borough leaders forwarding the matter to the borough and county planning commissions. A public hearing on the proposed change is slated for September 10th.
Outside the meeting, concerned neighbors protested, highlighting their fears about the impact of data centers on local water and air resources. One resident noted the proximity of the proposed sites to his home and mentioned an existing hyperscale data center across the river in Shippingport. The borough's attorney indicated that the developer still faces a lengthy process, needing to submit detailed plans regarding noise levels and operational procedures before any approval could be granted. Residents emphasized their commitment to protecting their environment from corporate development.