Watts Township faces crucial decision on data center ordinance

Watts Township, Pennsylvania, is at a critical juncture regarding a proposed data center ordinance, following a contentious meeting that drew hundreds of residents to the Watts-Buffalo Community Center. The Watts Township Board of Supervisors voted to schedule a May meeting to further discuss the draft ordinance, which has ignited a heated debate within the small farming community. Residents like Justin Mazero, who lives near the proposed data center site, expressed significant concerns about the lack of community input and the potential disruption to their way of life. Another resident, Daniel Welliver, critically compared Watts Township's draft to Carroll Township's, highlighting that Watts' proposal allows for significantly taller buildings (75 feet vs. 30 feet) and higher sound limits (70 decibels vs. 45 decibels at the property line), arguing it is overly favorable to developers. Conversely, some, including firefighter Kevin Bissonnette, spoke in favor of the ordinance, emphasizing the much-needed revenue data center development could bring to the township's emergency services, preventing equipment delays and maintaining operational capacity. Township officials have promised to release more details about the upcoming May meeting on their website, as residents vow to continue pressing the Board of Supervisors to carefully consider all options before enacting any new ordinances.