Penn Forest Township supervisors Monday night approved a data center ordinance at a well-attended meeting at Penn’s Peak.

Residents had a final opportunity to speak about the draft data center ordinance before the board voted.

Resident Jacob Peterzak from Mayer’s Well Drilling said, “There is not enough water in this area to draw for a data center. It will change the dynamic of the aquifer and I will not participate in any form of drilling for a data center.”

That led to applause.

Helene Katz responded to a handout encouraging residents to appeal a “yes” vote by the board.

Katz noted, “This is not a good idea, fighting it. We have no protection. We must allow this ordinance to go through.” Supervisor Christian Bartulovich reminded the public, “We have to make this ordinance defensible.”

The township held several meetings to review the ordinance and subsequent changes.

A zoning map indicates the data center overlay district on a draft map of 750 acres along Route 903 near Maury Road. Data centers would be permitted by conditional use in the area.

A data center has been proposed on Maury Road near the junction with Route 903.

At a meeting last month, Nanci Sarcinello, of Sarcinello Planning and GIS Services explained additional changes.

An area of influence (AOI) has been added, which requires a water feasibility study, and well withdrawal information as well as the impact on aquifer. Property owners within 3,000 feet from the use or within the area of influence need to have their well tested if a claim is needed in the future.

The maximum height of the data center was increased to 60 feet, with an additional 15 feet for roof mounted equipment.

An emergency management plan and decommissioning plan must be in place.

Setbacks are required to be 1,000 feet.

An addition to the ordinance is that 100 feet of a vegetative buffer is required and clear cutting is prohibited. Standards for air quality, light and glare, waste disposal and noise limits were adjusted.

Residents expressed concern about the effect on wildlife and noted several endangered species are being verified on the proposed site.

President of Save Carbon County, Linda Christman, stated, “The supervisors did a good job with the draft ordinance, but this is not a good site for a data center.”

Tim Hendricks, who said he is “under agreement to purchase” 750 acres at Route 903 and Maury Road for a proposed data center, approached the township last September.

“Once the data center is built, nothing else will be built on the land, and part of the land will go back to the township,” Hendricks said.

At the time, residents asked Hendricks about electricity and water usage.