In a significant decision, the Clifton Township Zoning Board has upheld its zoning ordinance, confirming that data centers can indeed be developed in the area. This decision comes amidst a challenge from a developer aiming to construct a significant data center campus in the North Pocono region.
After a series of four hearings, which commenced in July, board secretary Erin Horrigan initiated the vote. She stated, “That the zoning ordinance is not defective and is not unlawfully exclusionary as it relates to data center uses and is not substantively invalid.” The decision was unanimously supported by Chairman Wayne Fiene and members Michael and Jennie Shatynski.
Plans for the 1778 Rich Pike LLC’s Project Gold remain under consideration. Matthew McHugh, the legal representative for the Doylestown developer, mentioned that the team would await the official opinion from the zoning board before proceeding. The board is expected to deliver a detailed written decision within 45 days.
Proposed Data Center Project
The developer, 1778 Rich Pike LLC, initiated a substantive validity challenge against the township’s zoning ordinance in April. They aim to build a data center campus on multiple properties in Clifton and Covington townships. The proposed campus could accommodate up to 30 data centers, utilizing PPL’s 230kV transmission line along Route 380.
Initially, Clifton lacked specific regulations for data centers, prompting the township supervisors to introduce an ordinance in May. The developer contended that the ordinance unfairly excluded data centers and associated facilities. They sought site-specific allowances for three properties in Clifton, one currently zoned for residential use.
Community Concerns
The discussions have stirred strong reactions from residents in Clifton and Covington townships, many of whom express concerns about the proposed development. They fear potential impacts on local resources, including water and power, as well as noise and air pollution, which could affect community health and the rural environment.
Oksana Froymany, a Clifton resident, was granted party status during the hearings due to her property’s proximity to the proposed site. She interrogated the developer’s experts, focusing on their plans to potentially use Small Module Reactors for nuclear power. Froymany observed, “I think it’s a very good result that this data center is not exclusionary.”
Andrew Danchuk, another resident granted party status, challenged the witnesses about their roles in the project. He expressed satisfaction with the zoning board’s decision, saying, “It’s wonderful for Clifton Twp. and for the chance that we have to stop the type of construction that we don’t want in our community.”
Despite the zoning board’s decision, both Froymany and Danchuk remain cautious about the developer’s future actions. Danchuk noted, “It’s a concern, but I think this is the type of direction we needed to take as a community to show that we’re unified and that we are opposed to this development.”
