In the wake of a proposed plan to build a data center off Fireline Road, Lower Towamensing Township has appointed legal counsel for a challenge to the validity of the zoning ordinance filed by DTA Alliance LLC.

At a special meeting on Tuesday, the township’s board of supervisors unanimously hired Graham Simmons III, of Norris McLaughlin PA, at the rate of $275 per hour for associates and $325 per hour for partners.

The 14-building data center proposed at the sites of Blue Shamrock Golf Course and DTA Alliance LLC, 415 Golf Road.

The challenge to the zoning ordinance was filed Sept. 1. The township’s board of supervisors has 60 calendar days from the date of submittal to conduct a public hearing.

The public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 27, at the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company.

Background

About 20 people attended last Thursday’s township planning commission meeting to discuss a curative amendment filed Sept. 1, many of whom expressed concerns about water, noise and property values.

The property owners filed the curative amendment to challenge the township’s zoning ordinance, alleging it is defective because it fails to provide for data center use anywhere in the municipality.

The amendment proposes allowing data centers as a permitted use within an overlay district encompassing the Resort & Recreation (R&R) and Rural Conservation (RC) zoning districts.

The data center developers are the owners of the Alliance Sand Quarry, which is DTA Alliance LLC, and Murphy’s Meadow LLC. Dan Connor, operations manager for DTA Alliance, said that Murphy’s Meadow is owned by DT Allen Contracting in New Jersey, and that 368 acres is under contract, including the Blue Shamrock Golf Course.

Connor added that the property transfer is expected to take place before the end of the year.

The proposal is for multiple properties encompassing about 700 acres, 14 buildings, either under ownership or equitable ownership of the entities commonly known as the Alliance Sand Quarry, which is DTA Alliance LLC, and Murphy’s Meadow LLC.

Connor said the drawing shows the general layout, and added it’s a conceptual plan.

Connor noted there’s a provision for a power plant, and that most likely it would be natural gas, as natural gas is the fastest way to get power.

Several residents, including Albert and Suzanne Nelthropp, spoke out against the proposed data center.

While he’s not opposed to data centers per se, Nelthropp questioned why they couldn’t be put in areas where people don’t live rather then in the middle of a small town such as this.

Suzanne Nelthropp questioned how anyone thought this was a good idea, and expressed concerns about what would happen to the value of their properties.

Rich Banko said that while he’s not totally against a data center, what scares him is drilling wells.

Furthermore, Banko told Connor they have an ideal area to build a data center right along the Lehigh River.

Drew Everett asked the planning commission what it believed the estimated level of completion to be on the township’s zoning ordinance.

Planning commission Chair Angela Farrell said it was at about 95%, and estimated the zoning to be completed within the next several months.

Everett then asked in what zone a data center would be allowed, to which Farrell said it would be industrial.

Connie Banko asked if the comprehensive plan between Palmerton, Bowmanstown, Lower Towamensing Township and Towamensing Township would have any effect on data centers, to which Farrell said at this time she didn’t believe it would.

Farrell then told the residents the planning commission understands their concerns of how that would work, and that the appropriate thing would be to attend a public hearing that will likely be scheduled for the last week in October.

Joe Solt said there’s a much different kind of noise with a data center, which he said is going to produce a hum 24 hours a day.

Mary Farquhar mentioned the increase in consumer demand, which will ultimately raise electricity costs.

Solt urged those who attended the meeting to call their friends and attend next month’s public hearing to voice their opinions.

Connie Banko asked why they are looking to use 700 acres for a data center.

Planning commission member Collin Green said that in Pennsylvania there’s a large variety of different kinds of data centers that are out there.

It was stated that residents should follow the township’s website for updates.

Linda Christman, president of Save Carbon County, a local environmental advocacy nonprofit, said the group will be speaking out against this data center.

Christman then told the planning commission that she had two requests: To take its time, and to note that the site map is in her opinion, inadequate, with many omissions.

Christman said data centers will occupy huge land areas including environmentally sensitive lands and valued open space. Centers have been proposed in Nesquehoning and Penn Forest Township.

She said the local community cannot adequately oppose these highly funded developments.