Pennhurst development into a data center advances after township repeals zoning ordinance.
A proposed data center at the historic Pennhurst State School and Hospital site in East Vincent Township is set to advance following the board of supervisors’ decision to terminate a draft ordinance aimed at imposing construction restrictions on such facilities. This decision was made during a recent tumultuous meeting characterized by heated exchanges between local residents and board members, ultimately leading officials to postpone the ordinance that had been under development for several months in response to the landowner’s proposal.
With the abandonment of the draft ordinance, the application for the data center will be assessed by the township’s planning commission over the ensuing months. It is expected to ultimately return to the board of supervisors for a conditional use hearing, tentatively scheduled for March. The board’s chairman, Craig Damon, emphasized the need for an open-minded approach to the emotionally charged discourse surrounding the project.
Data centers serve as essential infrastructures that manage cloud storage and computing for major corporations such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta. They necessitate significant systems for cooling computing hardware, frequently utilizing water as part of these processes. The planned data center in East Vincent would augment the existing landscape of over 150 facilities across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The administration of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has actively advocated for the establishment of data centers within the state, introducing a “fast track” permitting program to streamline development. Recently, Governor Shapiro announced Amazon’s intentions to invest billion in developing data centers and other AI projects in the state.
However, this push for data center development is met with considerable resistance from local communities. A recent survey indicated that 42 percent of Pennsylvania residents oppose the construction of data centers in their neighborhoods. Residents have raised concerns regarding potential noise pollution, increased resource consumption—including electricity and water—and the overall environmental impact of such facilities. Specific apprehensions were voiced during the meeting, highlighting worries about the effects on health and quality of life, especially for local veterans living near the proposed site.
The data center project aims to encompass more than 1.3 million square feet, featuring five two-story buildings, an electrical substation, and a solar field. After its closure in 1987 due to legal challenges regarding treatment conditions, the Pennhurst facility has since transformed into a site for a popular Halloween attraction.
As East Vincent proceeds with the data center application, neighboring communities are grappling with their respective zoning and development decisions. Recently, East Coventry’s planning commission rejected amendments to their zoning code that would permit a data center along Route 724, indicating a broader apprehension about the implications of such developments on local environments and quality of life.
