Portland, NY Residents Persist in Opposition to Potential Data Center

Residents of Portland, New York, have maintained consistent opposition to the potential development of a data center on the former Sugar Hill Golf Course site. The Town Board, led by Supervisor Rich Lewis, passed a resolution in March expressing "general support" for the concept, encouraging any developer to proceed through proper channels. This resolution, however, did not approve a specific project, as no plans have yet been submitted.

Since the March resolution, community members have attended four subsequent Town Board meetings, with audiences of up to 50 people, to vocalize their objections. Resident Kelly Perlette organized an online petition on change.org against the data center, which has garnered over 3,500 signatures. Perlette and others have urged the Board to rescind its resolution, but Supervisor Lewis's offer to entertain such a motion received no response from other Board members.

Town Attorney Joel Seachrist clarified that a moratorium on data centers, suggested by resident Matthew Susskraut, is unnecessary because data centers are not currently a permitted use under the town's existing code. For any data center project to proceed, the Town Code would need to be amended to allow for such use, followed by site plan reviews, environmental assessments, and public hearings. Board member Tammy Thompson reiterated the Board's stance, emphasizing the need to consider projects that could benefit the tax base.

Despite the significant public outcry, the Town Board views the opposition as premature, stating that "nothing is happening" until a formal proposal, adhering to all necessary steps, is presented to them.