Muncy Township Planning Commission weighs options on data center efforts
Muncy Township residents voiced strong opposition to a potential data center project at a Planning Commission meeting, citing concerns about property value, water supply, and noise. The township has enacted a moratorium and is in the process of drafting a new ordinance to regulate future data center developments, prompted by an inquiry from DANKO Holdings II/Fishlips LLC.
The Muncy Township Planning Commission held a public meeting to gather feedback on data center development, following an inquiry from DANKO Holdings II/Fishlips LLC regarding a potential data center on industrially zoned land. Residents, including Sean Tetreault, expressed passionate concerns about the negative impacts on property values, water tables, and noise levels.
In response to the data center interest, Muncy Township had previously enacted a moratorium on such developments and is now actively working to draft a comprehensive ordinance. Commission chairman Larry Spatz confirmed that this meeting was the first in a series designed to collect information and address citizen concerns before finalizing the ordinance.
Township zoning officer Joe Lyons and engineer Dan Vassallo highlighted environmental concerns, particularly regarding electricity consumption and water usage for cooling. They advised residents that while an outright ban on data centers is not permissible under Pennsylvania's "fair share" Municipal Planning Code, the new ordinance could impose stringent conditions, potentially making projects unfeasible for developers. Landowners John Schaeffer and Malcolm Barlow, who previously rejected an offer for their 800-acre Muncy Farms, suspect the data center project is larger than initially presented and part of a broader development scheme.
Despite not being part of Lycoming County's planning umbrella, Muncy Township continues to move forward with developing its own specific regulations, with ongoing public input playing a crucial role in shaping the forthcoming ordinance.