Land and sewage agreements for massive AI data center face township vote
Middlesex Township supervisors postponed a meeting to discuss land development and environmental protections for the proposed PAX-1 data center due to overcrowding and resident concerns. Residents expressed distrust over the process, particularly regarding deadlines for public comment and votes. The meeting has been rescheduled for August 19th at a new location.
Middlesex Township supervisors in Pennsylvania postponed a critical meeting regarding the proposed PAX-1 (Pennsylvania Digital 1) hyperscale data center project after public attendance exceeded room capacity, leading to resident complaints about transparency and access. The meeting was slated for discussions on land development for two phases and environmental protections for the data center off Country Club Road.
Over 120 residents attended the meeting, with many forced to stand or wait outside the 150-person capacity room. Residents like Jocelyn Collier raised concerns about the overcrowding, prompting supervisors to deliberate on continuing the meeting. Ultimately, Supervisor and Vice Chairman Phil Neiderer announced the postponement, citing the capacity issues.
Further adding to public distrust, residents were confused about the deadline for action on the agenda items, believing it to be August 5th. Neiderer clarified the actual vote deadline is August 23rd, with proposals submitted on May 15th and a 90-day review period starting May 23rd. Andrew Dymsky, organizer of StopPAX1.com, expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of publicized information, which fueled skepticism among the community. Residents like John Werner and Stan Shivell voiced strong opposition to the data center and a lack of trust in township leadership.
The postponed meeting is now scheduled for August 19th, with Middlesex Elementary School proposed as the new, larger venue, though the location remains unconfirmed. Supervisors declined to comment after the postponement.