‘They’re on notice’: Upper Mount Bethel board gives supervisors 60 days to take action on data center regulation
Upper Mount Bethel Township’s zoning hearing board postponed consideration of Slate Belt Holdings’ challenge to the township’s zoning ordinance and gave township supervisors 60 days to act on data center regulations or related agreements. The proposed campus could include up to 29 buildings across roughly 900 acres, while environmental advocates and nearby residents have been granted standing in the case.
The Upper Mount Bethel Township Zoning Hearing Board voted 4-1 to postpone until Dec. 17 its consideration of Slate Belt Holdings’ validity challenge to the township’s zoning ordinance. The board directed township supervisors, chaired by John Bermingham, to take action within 60 days on a long-delayed data center ordinance or memorandums of understanding under discussion with the developer.
Slate Belt Holdings, a partnership of Talen Energy and River Pointe Logistics, is proposing a phased data center campus with as many as 29 buildings, substations, battery storage and a power plant on approximately 900 acres. The Delaware Riverkeeper Network and nearby residents were granted standing to participate in the case, while the township also faces a second zoning challenge concerning an expansion of the proposed campus. Supervisors have not yet adopted a data center ordinance, and discussions over a potential community benefits agreement and environmental protections remain unresolved.