Township without zoning seeks development freeze amid AI data center concerns
South Bend Township supervisors are planning to enact a moratorium on development to prevent an AI data center from being built in the municipality. Residents are opposing the project due to concerns about noise, water usage, and electricity demands, leading the township to explore zoning options. The supervisors will meet to finalize the moratorium while also planning to establish long-term zoning measures.
South Bend Township supervisors are moving to implement a development moratorium in response to a proposed artificial intelligence data center project. This decision comes as the rural municipality, lacking formal zoning ordinances, faces a unique challenge compared to larger western Pennsylvania communities.
The potential data center developer, based in Florida, is considering a parcel of land owned by CNX Gas, which is currently leased for hunting. Residents, led by individuals like Dave Linsenbigler who initiated a petition, express strong opposition, citing concerns over noise, water consumption, and electricity demands. Don Linsenbigler, vice chair of the township supervisors, noted the community's surprise at the proposed development in their rural area.
Nearly 200 of the township's approximately 960 residents have signed a petition against the project. Supervisors hosted a meeting with planning specialists from Harrisburg to discuss establishing zoning, a zoning board, and a planning commission, recognizing that these measures could take years to implement. Therefore, they decided to enact an immediate moratorium to prevent the data center sale before such systems are in place.
The proposed moratorium aligns with a broader petition by gubernatorial candidate Stacey Garrity, which seeks a halt to new development statewide to assess environmental impacts. The South Bend Township supervisors plan to meet with their solicitor soon to finalize the details of their moratorium and begin establishing zoning measures for the future.