Dallas Township passes data center zoning amendment after heated public hearing

The Dallas Township Board of Supervisors faced a heated public hearing and special meeting regarding a proposed zoning amendment for data centers. Residents, including Junell Guarneri and David Wilson, voiced significant concerns about the potential negative impact of data centers on property values and the overall desirability of the Back Mountain area, despite the township having no current data center applications. Critics like Hannah Butterwick and Sarah Latona argued that the board failed to incorporate suggestions from previous meetings to strengthen the ordinance, which they deemed "too weak." They expressed frustration over unanswered feedback. Supervisors, including Chairman Liz Martin and Supervisor Bill Grant, acknowledged the concerns but emphasized the need to pass an amendment to avoid leaving the township vulnerable to data center proposals without any regulatory framework. They stated the intention to revise the amendment quickly after its passage. Ultimately, the Board of Supervisors adjourned the meeting and approved the zoning amendment. Following the vote, the board immediately engaged with residents to schedule further meetings for revising the newly passed ordinance.