LVPC reviews revamped South Whitehall ‘Project Atlas’ data center plan
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission reviewed a revised plan for "Project Atlas," a proposed 1.5 million square foot data center complex in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. The project, which includes three data center buildings, an administration building, a warehouse, and an electric substation, still faces "several outstanding issues" despite scale reductions. South Whitehall's zoning officer previously recommended against the project due to incomplete information.
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) recently reviewed a revised proposal for “Project Atlas,” a significant data center development planned for South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. The project, slated for a 410-acre site at 2493 N. Cedar Crest Blvd., includes three data center buildings totaling 1.5 million square feet, a 40,680-square-foot administration building, a 39,167-square-foot warehouse, and an electric substation.
The updated plan, which represents a reduction in scale from a version reviewed in January, also proposes a new road connecting Cedar Crest Boulevard to Mauch Chunk Road and a public shared-use path. While the LVPC noted that the applicant addressed numerous previous comments, "several outstanding issues remain that must be addressed." Concerns raised by the commission include potential impacts on sensitive receptors, disturbance of natural site resources, and the adequacy of utility infrastructure without adversely affecting existing users.
The LVPC highlighted common data center issues like noise, lighting, air quality, and visual impacts, urging continued coordination between developers and South Whitehall Township on emergency services, environment, utility infrastructure, and transportation. The project is expected to generate 1,154 weekday trips, necessitating potential signalization at new roadway intersections, particularly given the proximity to Parkland High School. The review comes roughly a month after South Whitehall Township's zoning officer recommended against Project Atlas due to "missing and incomplete information."
Officials also noted that 49 of the 62 municipalities in the Lehigh Valley have either adopted or are working on data center regulations, primarily through zoning and SALDO ordinances. These regulations in Pennsylvania must comply with the Municipalities Planning Code, preventing total exclusion of data centers or the imposition of unreasonable restrictions.