The Upper Merion Township Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected all six measures related to proposed data center development that came before the board Thursday night, bringing an emphatic end to a contentious meeting attended by hundreds of residents.
Whether it is the end of the larger fight over the proposals, however, is another question.
As the applicant and his attorneys stood to leave following the votes, Board Chair Tina Garzillo reminded him that an appeal process was available. The applicant responded that the Board could count on an appeal.
A Vote That Almost Didn't Happen
Just hours before the meeting, it wasn't clear whether supervisors would be able to vote on the data center matters at all.
An injunction that had prevented the Board from acting was lifted Thursday afternoon. Upper Merion Township announced a few hours before that the meeting would proceed as advertised and that supervisors would review the data center applications and a related extension request.
That set the stage for Thursday night's votes.
Questions Remained About the Proposals
During the meeting, comments from the Township engineer indicated that numerous questions surrounding the proposed development remained unanswered.
The discussion also became contentious at times, with representatives for the applicant and members of the Board accusing one another of bullying during exchanges over the applications.
The disagreement wasn't limited to the people sitting at the table.
An estimated 300 to 400 people packed the meeting, and residents delivered a series of passionate and often highly detailed comments during the public comment portion of the evening.
Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija was among those who addressed the Board.
One particularly memorable comment came from an Upper Merion resident who identified himself as a rocket scientist. He told supervisors, in essence, that while his job may be rocket science, the decision facing the Board was not.
Ultimately, supervisors agreed.
All six data center-related measures before the Board were denied unanimously.
What Happens Next?
Thursday's votes represent a significant decision by Upper Merion Township, but the issue appears far from settled.
The applicant's response following the votes made clear that an appeal is expected.
For residents who have closely followed the proposed data center developments, Thursday night provided an answer to one major question: where the current Board of Supervisors stands.
But with the applicant indicating that an appeal is coming, the data center debate in Upper Merion appears far from over.
Enjoying the Spotlight? Don't stop here.
The best local stories come from the community. Have something that deserves the Spotlight? Email us at [email protected]
Thank you for reading,
Corey