During the Limerick Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 17, township officials provided updates on a proposed data center project and heard public comment from residents expressing concerns about the development.
Township Manager Daniel Kerr said the project’s conditional use hearing is tentatively targeted for March, with township officials expected to know the week of Feb. 23 whether advertising deadlines will allow the process to move forward. If it proceeds, the township may shift meetings related to the data center to a larger venue due to anticipated public interest.
Possible Hearing Timeline and Venue Change
Kerr said the Spring-Ford Area School District has offered the use of an auditorium to accommodate larger crowds for any data-center-related meetings.
The township’s regular meeting schedule includes a Planning Commission meeting on March 12 and a Board of Supervisors meeting on March 17. Officials said it has not yet been determined whether the proposed data center will be discussed at either meeting. The conditional use hearing itself has not been formally advertised and remains subject to scheduling requirements.
The Board’s Limits on Discussion
Before opening public comment, the township solicitor explained that the board of supervisors may soon be acting in a quasi-judicial role when the conditional use application is heard. Because of that, board members were advised not to answer substantive questions about the project during the meeting.
Residents were encouraged to submit questions through the township website or in person at the municipal building so they can be addressed through appropriate channels without affecting the integrity of a future hearing.
Residents Express Concerns
During public comment, the township manager read a series of emails submitted by residents on the subject of data centers. Additional speakers also addressed the board in person.
Many of the comments reflected opposition to a potential data center in the township and raised concerns about possible impacts on local resources and community character, as well as environmental and infrastructure considerations. Among the issues mentioned were:
- potential noise and other quality-of-life impacts
- water and electricity usage associated with large-scale data facilities
- effects on nearby neighborhoods and natural areas
- questions about zoning, particularly regarding land currently zoned residential
Residents will have additional opportunities to comment if the project advances to advertised public hearings in the coming weeks. In nearby East Vincent, a conditional use hearing for a separate data center project is scheduled for March 16.
