Watts Township faces crucial decision on data center ordinance
The Watts Township Board of Supervisors scheduled a May meeting to discuss a draft data center ordinance, following a contentious public meeting that drew hundreds of residents. Community members are raising concerns about the proposed ordinance's provisions regarding building heights and noise limits, which they believe are too lenient compared to neighboring townships. Emergency services, however, are urging the board to approve the ordinance as a new revenue source for the township.
The Watts Township Board of Supervisors in Perry County, Pennsylvania, recently held a contentious meeting to set a date for discussing a proposed data center ordinance. The gathering at the Watts-Buffalo Community Center drew hundreds of residents, forcing officials to move the proceedings outdoors due to overflow. The ordinance aims to regulate future large-scale developments, particularly data centers, within the township.
Residents expressed strong opposition to the proposed development. Justin Mazero and Daniel Wellever, who live near a proposed data center site on Ramp Road, voiced concerns that the current draft ordinance is too lenient on developers compared to stricter regulations in neighboring Carroll Township. They highlighted disparities in proposed building height limits (75 feet in Watts vs. 30 feet in Carroll) and noise limits (70 decibels vs. 45 decibels at the property line). Additionally, concerns about significant power requirements for data centers were implicitly raised by a resident's question about "big power."
Conversely, Kevin Bissonnette advocated for the ordinance, urging the board to support it as a vital new revenue source for the township's emergency services. He argued that without such funding, emergency services would face equipment delays, reduced operational capacity, and challenges in maintaining essential protection for the community.
As discussions continue, residents are pressing township officials to carefully consider their options and the long-term impact before inviting data center developments, emphasizing the need to preserve the area's small farming community character.