Muncy Township residents pack planning meeting for proposed data center
Muncy Township residents packed a planning commission meeting to voice concerns about a proposed data center, focusing on potential impacts to water, noise, traffic, and farmland. The commission is in the early stages of drafting a data center ordinance, following a recently enacted nine-month moratorium, with a conditional use plan for a "Muncy Data Center" having been submitted by Danko Holdings II LLC and Fishlips LLC just before the moratorium took effect. Residents and advocacy groups are actively opposing the project and pushing for robust local regulations.
The Muncy Township Planning Commission in Pennsylvania initiated the process of drafting a data center ordinance, drawing a large crowd of concerned residents to an informational meeting on June 24. While commission members emphasized no decisions would be made, residents, many having signed a "stop the data center" petition from Williamsport Rising, voiced strong opposition regarding potential impacts on water resources, noise levels, traffic, and the future of local farmland.
This meeting follows the township's recent enactment of a nine-month moratorium on data center submissions. Notably, a conditional use plan for a "Muncy Data Center"—comprising three buildings, six water tanks, and a substation—was submitted by Danko Holdings II LLC and Fishlips LLC, tied to Daniel Klingerman's The Liberty Group, just hours before the moratorium passed on April 28.
Residents like Sean Tetreault, whose property borders the proposed site, highlighted the risk of contaminated wells and unlivable noise. Local farmer Malcolm Barlow and his nephew John Schaeffer questioned whether the 100-acre project was merely an initial phase for a much larger development. Experts, including zoning officer Joe Lyons, advised the commission on controlling aspects like water sourcing, power demand, and noise through a strong ordinance, referencing model ordinances from other counties. Sam Burleigh of Concerned Citizens of Montour County shared experiences of well contamination from a data center fight in his community, urging residents to conduct thorough research.
Commission members acknowledged their role is advisory, with final decisions resting with the supervisors, who are legally required to designate areas for data centers. The Lycoming County Commissioners are also developing a model data center ordinance for townships to adapt. The Muncy Township commission expects to meet twice monthly to draft the ordinance, encouraging continued public input.