Smithfield Board of Supervisors Vote on Data Center Zoning Ordinance
Residents in Smithfield Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, voiced concerns during a public hearing on a new zoning ordinance for proposed data centers. The Smithfield Township Board of Supervisors held a meeting to vote on the ordinance, with many residents opposing the Smithfield Gateway Project and other proposed data centers. Residents urged the board not to rush decision-making on these proposals.
The Smithfield Township Board of Supervisors held a meeting at J.T. Lambert Intermediate School in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, which saw a packed house of residents eager to voice concerns about a new zoning ordinance for proposed data centers. Residents like Joel Raffaeli and Karl Detweiler used the public hearing to advocate for preserving local land and urged their leaders to carefully consider the community's wishes.
A specific data center proposal, the Smithfield Gateway Project in East Stroudsburg, is currently under consideration. Residents expressed growing frustration over these types of proposals in Northeastern Pennsylvania, questioning the necessity of rushing decisions when a significant portion of the community appears to be against them. The public hearing involved extensive discussion between residents, the Board of Supervisors, and Solicitor Ronold Karasek, with the story noted as developing.