Plymouth Township data center plan draws neighbor concerns over noise, emissions

Well a packed house tonight in Montgomery County for the latest hearing about a proposed data center in Plymouth Township and it's an issue that's at the top of mind for so many people and voters as we head to the midterms. Seanette, you found out firsthand people have very strong opinions about these data centers and this one that's being proposed is gigantic. Yeah Jason and so as it stands right now data centers are not a permitted use under the township code so in this case the developer would need a special exception. Now tonight's meeting ran more like a court hearing with a developer presenting testimony and evidence. Signs warn of opposition to a reported 2 million square foot data center in Plymouth Township. It's proposed for this former steel plant site at 900 Conshohocken Road. People who live across the street on Old Elm Street also have signs against the data center and the developer, Brian O'Neill. Is he really going to keep any commitments that he's promising the board once he actually gets approval if he does? Roger Finch and his wife Amber say they live just a few hundred feet away on Fulton Street. This is a problem all over the country, and nobody has said this has been the best thing ever for my community. They're concerned for their two children and other kids in the neighborhood. Where that stop sign is, that's actually where our kids wait for the bus, for the school bus. The turbine will be less than 300 feet of the site, but the gas turbines aren't going to be that far away. The playground that my kids and the neighborhood kids play at is right here. So they'll be directly affected by this. Resident Jamie Stilson also has a list of concerns. The emissions with the different generators, the diesel generators, the noise, pollution, vibration. Tonight, many attended a Plymouth Township Zoning Board hearing on the data center. People who feel they will be directly affected were able to apply for party standing. Some are residents, others are business owners, or have rental properties nearby. The board, acting as judges, and the attorney for the developer, were able to question them before a decision was made. Party status allows them to participate formally in the process, including the right to appeal the board's decision on the center to a court. Your request for party status will be granted. Your request is denied. Your request is denied. Your request today is based on the presumption that my client is using turbines, right? yes it is so if i already told you that my client's not using turbines residents say they will follow the entire process through no matter how long it takes we hope to shut it down nobody wants this and it was decided that public input would not happen tonight the township says that will take place at a later date and at a much larger venue and jason at this hour right now what are we three hours into this testimony and evidence inside is still ongoing by the developer although much of the public has left the meeting well with this kind of reaction maybe that venue needs to be Xfinity Mobile Arena so there's enough people who can sit there and have public comment it's that kind of issue all right thank you very much That's Seanette.