ALLENTOWN, Pa.- Some residents opposed to a hyperscale data center proposed for South Whitehall Township were frustrated that the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) wasn’t more critical of the project in its initial review.

CDE Acquisitions LLC wants to put up a six-building, 5-million-square-foot campus across 410 acres at 2493 N. Cedar Crest Blvd. The site is across the street from Parkland High School.

The project was discussed at length on Thursday night by the full LVPC, two days after the body’s comprehensive planning committee did the same thing, as 69 News reported.

Both meetings were held virtually, and both meetings were well attended by residents who wanted to voice their opposition to the project.

On Thursday, LVPC Chief Community and Regional Planner Jill Seitz opened the discussion by explaining how land use decisions work under Pennsylvania law. “This shapes what communities can and can’t do when a proposal like a data center comes forward,” she said. “Municipalities are required to provide for all land uses. Outright bans are illegal.”

But, while communities can’t issue a blanket “no” to an entire category of land use, that doesn’t mean they have to accept poor design or unaddressed impacts, Seitz said. “The most effective time to influence outcomes is when local comprehensive plans are updated, zoning standards are written, and development rules are established.”

The LVPC works in an advisory capacity; it does not have the final say in what projects are approved. The agency is mandated by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to review subdivision and land development projects within 30 days. In its reviews, the body notes whether the proposals align with the FutureLV regional plan, the LVPC’s roadmap for development in Lehigh and Northampton counties.

Several residents who spoke during the meeting said it’s obvious to them that the proposed data center campus does not align with that plan. “If that is truly all that this planning commission can do in this situation, which is review the implications of this data center as it pertains to the FutureLV plans, it seems pretty straightforward that it is against at least a couple of the main tenets of that plan,” said Taylor Laney, referencing sections about open space preservation, and the health and wellbeing of residents.

But LVPC Executive Director Becky Bradley pointed out that their review did identify a number of concerns to be addressed by the developer and township. Those issues include noise, energy and water consumption, and the extensive presence of karsts (surface depressions) throughout the site. “Yes, FutureLV is part of it, and our letter proposed tonight outlines many, many, many, many, many more things that the township will receive information from us on,” said Bradley.

There was discussion among some of the commissioners about possibly adding a stronger statement in the review letter, making it clear that the overall project as proposed does not align with FutureLV. But the LVPC ultimately came to the consensus that, given the early stage of the project, there are still too many unknowns. “We have to base (the review) on the information that was provided, not what we believe could happen,” said LVPC Chair Tori Morgan. “That would put us in a very difficult spot.”

The decision frustrated some members of the public. “It sounds like you’re just opening the door for anyone to get something approved by not giving you the information,” said Jill Schneider.

Schneider was one of about a dozen residents who spoke out against the proposal. Katy Howe was another. She raised concerns about the emissions that would come from two diesel generators on the site. She called placing a data center near a high school “crazy.”

“I think the location of this data center is very poorly planned and can be disastrous for the kids and the local residents,” Howe said. “And it’s really a shame, because there’s no there’s no net benefit for the public. This won’t generate jobs.”

Greg Sussman had questions about how noisy the place would be. “My home is less than 1,100 feet from the proposed data center. I’m trying to imagine what it would be like to live in my house with a constant hum, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.” 

South Whitehall Township will have the final say in whether the data center is approved. The plans are scheduled to go before the township’s planning commission on February 12.