Big Beaver Residents Protest Proposed Data Center Development

Nearly 100 residents of Big Beaver Borough, Pennsylvania, gathered at the Big Beaver Volunteer Fire Department for a town hall meeting that quickly escalated into a protest against a proposed data center campus. The event, organized by the Big Beaver Association and the Three Rivers Motorsport Preservation Society, aimed to address residents' unanswered questions regarding Switch's plans for a 382-acre facility on the former Pittsburgh International Race Complex site. The proposed development, estimated to be a multi-hundred-million to billion-dollar investment, has stirred significant community concern.

Residents voiced apprehension over the project's potential impact on private well water, local roads, property values, traffic congestion, and noise levels, as well as the loss of a regional recreational amenity. Dan Dennehy-Rodriguez of the Three Rivers Motorsport Preservation Society stated that previous presentations by Switch failed to adequately address these environmental, legal, and legislative issues. Switch representatives have previously indicated the campus would utilize closed-loop water systems, backup generators, and renewable energy, connecting to existing FirstEnergy infrastructure to minimize environmental impact.

In September 2025, the Big Beaver Borough Council approved amendments to its zoning ordinance, Ordinance 245, which opened commercial districts to data center uses and updated the zoning map in anticipation of large commercial applications. Despite this preparatory step by the borough, no formal land-development application for the Switch project has been filed. Borough officials have outlined a standard review process involving engineering review, public Planning Committee hearings, and a Council vote once an application is submitted. Residents are committed to closely monitoring future municipal agendas to ensure their concerns are addressed.