A meeting to organize volunteers concerning the data center proposed in Lower Towamensing Township attracted a full house.

About 100 citizens attended the standing-room-only meeting Thursday hosted by Save Carbon County in the Palmerton Area Library, Gallery Room.

The meeting was held to organize leafleting to get the word out about the upcoming public hearing and to organize speakers for the public hearing.

Save Carbon County said the meeting was not a public hearing to voice opposition to the data center proposal, but rather an opportunity to organize the community, schedule actions, and identify speakers for the public hearing.

Linda Christman, president, Save Carbon County, said the challenge came with a proposed landowner curative amendment that stated the township’s zoning was invalid and the landowner proposed a way to “cure” the problem with the zoning.

Christman said the landowner’s cure is to zone his site as appropriate for data centers and to adopt his proposed data center zoning ordinance.

She said a semi-judicial hearing will be held by the township’s board of supervisors. They’ll hear from the landowner, the township’s attorney, and citizens who have a direct interest in the issue and are named as having “standing” as a “party.”

At the substantive validity challenge hearing, Christman said the challenger will attempt to prove that the township’s zoning ordinance unlawfully excludes the proposed use.

She said the township essentially has two basic paths; determine that the challenge has no merit, or determine that the challenge has merit.

Christman said that in determining the appropriate cure, supervisors must consider whether the site can support the proposed use and intensity.

The proposal

The proposed 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 are under contract, including the Blue Shamrock Golf Course.

The proposal in Lower Towamensing calls for 13 data center buildings and a possible power generation building off Fireline Road, at the sites of Blue Shamrock Golf Course and DTA Alliance LLC, 415 Golf Road. Development is expected over 700 acres.

Christman said the site encompasses the Blue Shamrock Golf Club and land at the sand quarry, and is proposed to be adjacent to Fireline Road, housing in Bowmanstown, and Princeton and Edgemont Avenue in West Palmerton. There are 14 buildings planned with a total footprint of 4.5-million square feet.

The buildings range in size as follows: Building A: 162,500 square feet; Building B, $650,000 square feet; Building C, 500,000 square feet; Building D, 125,000 square feet; Building E, 500,000 square feet; Buildings F, G, H, & I 125,000 square feet; Building J: 400,000 square feet; Buildings K and L, 500,000 square feet; Building M: 300,000 square feet; and Building N: 420,000 square feet.

Christman noted that the township cannot say no to all data centers, as according to state law, the township must accept a data center zoning ordinance.

However, she added, “This data center can be stopped.”

Christman stressed that it’s important for affected residents to attend, adding they should talk to their neighbors and friends and invite them to the meeting, as showing up in force is an important first step toward stopping the data center.

She said there are four ways “we can win.”

Christman said the keys to winning are strong relentless opposition, delay, facts, and publicity.

“We need local leadership on this; people who are affected,” Christman said. “This will not work unless there is local leadership.”

Giving testimony

A public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company; however, citizens were told the hearing may be continued to a different date, and were encouraged to visit the township’s website for updates.

Save Carbon County member Carol Etheridge discussed with the citizens how to give testimony at a public hearing.

Etheridge stressed that testimony based on personal experience is effective.

She cautioned that the Lower Towamensing Township board of supervisors “is doing the best they can.

“This issue is going to take a huge amount of their time,” Etheridge said. “It’s a big deal to the township, it’s a big deal to the (residents).”

Residents were then encouraged to fill out a volunteer sign-up slip that was handed out at Thursday’s meeting stating they are willing to volunteer to either speak at the Oct. 27 public hearing; help organize a local opposition group; go to Lower Towamensing Township Planning Commission meetings to monitor work on a data center ordinance; deliver signs to households in the area; and be willing to help.

Etheridge said they are hopeful to be able to give citizens yard signs outside the Oct. 27 meeting.

Background

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

About 20 people attended the Sept. 10 township planning commission meeting to discuss the 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 and Rural Conservation zoning districts.

At a special meeting Sept. 15, Lower Towamensing Township appointed legal counsel for a challenge to the validity of the zoning ordinance filed by DTA Alliance LLC.

Graham Simmons III, of Norris McLaughlin PA, was hired at the rate of $275 per hour for associates and $325 per hour for partners.