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Plans for a massive data center at the former Air Products headquarters were dealt a blow late Wednesday as the Upper Macungie Township Zoning Hearing Board voted unanimously to deny a request to allow the project to move forward.
Before a packed meeting room of residents opposed to the proposed 2.6 million-square-foot data center complex along Cetronia Road, the board first voted against Air Products’ request for a third continuance. The panel then proceeded with a brief hearing on the merits of the application, which would have allowed the data center to be constructed in the township’s light industrial district, and denied that request.
Both decisions were met with clapping and cheers from the audience. While no public comment was permitted, Upper Macungie resident Michelle Albino said she believes township officials are paying attention.
“I’m glad that our voices were heard. This is just the beginning. We have to be here and we have to stand up to data centers and AI,” Albino said.
Air Products will likely appeal the decision. Blake Marles, the company’s attorney, declined to comment after the hearing.
Air Products submitted a data center plan for 7300 Cetronia Road in November. It is similar to a previous warehouse plan for the 194-acre site in that it would consist of three buildings. The biggest building would be 1.23 million square feet and stand on the west side of the property. The second building would be 926,250 square feet, and the smallest 435,600 square feet.
State Sen. Jarrett Coleman attended the hearing and said he was pleased with the board’s decision.
“I don’t think data centers fit in the Lehigh Valley,” he said. “This project in particular would be such a nuisance to the community.”
Coleman on Wednesday introduced a package of bills in the state Senate and House along with Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Luzerne, to repeal the 2021 tax break being given to data centers to locate in Pennsylvania and allowing municipalities to place a moratorium on data center development applications.
“The proliferation of huge data centers in the Lehigh Valley and other regions of our state is extremely concerning because their massive energy use, water use and noise output can impact residents,” Coleman said.
The moratorium bill would give municipalities the option of placing an 18-month halt on both unapproved and new data center applications so they can revise zoning ordinances and establish policies addressing issues like power supply, water consumption and noise.
Upper Macungie updated its laws regarding data centers Dec. 4, and Air Products filed its application as a way to preserve its rights under the prior ordinance. The company is seeking to determine if a data center, a use not explicitly defined in the old ordinance, is permitted in the light industrial district.
Under township law, the applicant must prove the use is less intensive in external impacts and nuisances, similar in character to allowed uses, and capable of meeting general safety and community standards.
Public comment was not permitted Wednesday because only an affected landowner or aggrieved party may request to be heard by a zoning board. Since Air Products did not offer more details about their plan, the board could not determine who would be affected by the project.
Marine Yutz, who said she lives within walking distance of the proposed data center, called the project a “terrible idea” for the neighborhood.
“It’s going to create pollution, it’s going to create higher bills, it’s going to create water problems. What are they trying to do? It’s taking Upper Macungie and this whole area down the tubes really quickly.”
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