Developers revert to 1.5M-square-foot data center proposal in Chesco after back-and-forth on the facility’s footprint

Developers Green Fig LLC and Sentinel Data Centers have announced they will proceed with a previously approved 1.5 million-square-foot data center project in East Whiteland, Chester County, Pennsylvania. This decision comes after months of intense community opposition, including protests and halted municipal meetings, which had prompted the developers to propose a significantly smaller footprint for the facility. The developers initially pressed the East Whiteland Township Board of Supervisors to quickly approve a revised application, which could have scaled back the project by 74% to 85%. However, they recently withdrew this pending application, citing the board's timeframe and the apparent unacceptability of any concessions to residents. Lou Colagreco, an attorney for the developers, stated that while a smaller data center with enhanced landscaping, sound attenuation, and diminished water usage was offered, it became clear the core issue for residents was "data center vs. no data center." The original 1.5 million-square-foot plan, which includes antenna yards, microwave towers, and cooling towers requiring 3 million gallons of water daily, received final approval in 2024 after initial zoning hearing board approvals in 2018. Residents, who had considered the downsized project a victory, are now pursuing legal action, contending that the initial approvals for the larger project have expired. The site is located on 100 acres at 13 S. Bacton Hill Rd, a Superfund site near a residential area and the Chester Valley Trail. Sentinel Data Centers CEO Josh Rabina previously acknowledged the approved plan is less desirable but vested and functional.