Upper Merion planning commission meeting turns contentious on data center proposals
The Upper Merion Township Planning Commission denied three of five data center applications proposed by developer Brian O Neill after a contentious meeting with strong community opposition. Residents raised concerns about health, environment, and the scale of the hyperscale development. Two remaining applications will be reconsidered in August.
The Upper Merion Township Planning Commission unanimously denied three of five applications for a 4.6 million-square-foot data center project proposed by developer Brian O
Neill during an hours-long, contentious meeting. Hundreds of residents packed the Upper Merion Area Middle School auditorium, expressing strong opposition to the plan, citing concerns about health issues, environmental impact, and the potential dying off of plant and wildlife.
While one resident, Josh Stevens, spoke in favor of the data center, his comments were met with boos from the audience. This is not O'Neill's first attempt to develop data centers in the region; a previous 2 million-square-foot project in Plymouth Township was denied last year and later withdrawn, though a new application for that site recently surfaced.
Planning commission members and township officials, including Upper Merion Township Engineer Al Vennettilli and Chairman Matt Popek, criticized O'Neill's applications for a lack of detail regarding environmental questions and energy usage. Vice Chairman Mark McKee specifically raised concerns about the "hyperscale" nature of the proposed development, highlighting its potential impacts beyond the site and on nearby neighbors.
Despite O'Neill's claims of compliance and a quiet use, the commission voted unanimously against recommending approval for three of the agenda items. The remaining two applications related to the Upper Merion project are slated for further review on August 12.