Flyers fly, frustration mounts over Wildcat Ridge Data Center hearing

A heated third conditional use hearing regarding the proposed Wildcat Ridge Data Center campus took place in Archbald, Pennsylvania, marked by significant public frustration and protest. The proceedings began with an attorney for the applicants expressing disapproval over a box of flyers, labeled as 'propaganda', placed on the dais, which residents subsequently tossed back. Opposition to development in Archbald remains strong, with five data center proposals still under consideration following the denial of one. Residents are actively organizing, selling protest signs, t-shirts, and gathering signatures to demand the resignation of several borough officials. During the hearing, a consultant for the developer presented a trip generation report estimating nearly 2,500 daily vehicle trips, but faced questions regarding inconsistencies with the applicant's prior statements claiming fewer than 2,000 trips, even with all 1,280 employees arriving simultaneously. Former Judge Tom Mullaney issued a stark warning to the officials, urging them to agree to a moratorium or put the decision on the ballot, otherwise advising them to 'pack your bags' and leave, which was met with cheering and applause from the audience. The developer's website maintains that staggered shifts would ease congestion, resulting in fewer than 2,000 added vehicles daily.