Around 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 27, a meeting of the Upper Merion Township Planning Commission drew an overwhelming response. Approximately 300 community members filled the building to capacity, while an estimated 1,500 more gathered outside. The large turnout reflected strong community opposition to a data center development proposed earlier this year by Brian O’Neil. The meeting served as an opportunity for residents to learn more about the proposal and voice their concerns directly to the board.
The meeting began with presentations outlining a total of five separate proposals submitted to the commission:
The Proposals:
- Land Development Application for a 187,946 sq. ft. data center in the Suburban Metropolitan 1 (SM-1) Zoning District
- 3200 Horizon Dr. – Land Development Application for a 370,918 sq. ft. data center in the SM-1 Zoning District
- 2201, 2301, 2501, 2701 & 2901 Renaissance Blvd. – Land Development Application for a 1,971,766 sq. ft. data center in the SM-1 Zoning District
- 411 Swedeland Road – Land Development Application for a 1,677,800 sq. ft. data center in the Limited Industrial (LI) Zoning District
- 600 River Road – Preliminary land development submission for a 450,000 sq. ft. data center in the Heavy Industrial (HI) Zoning District
Although the applications were submitted under five different LLCs—suggesting multiple independent developers—they were all ultimately linked to MLP Ventures.
The proposals are currently under review by local boards and authorities, including township engineers, transportation officials, sewer and sanitary engineers, and the Upper Merion Township Planning Commission.
After the presentations, O’Neil spoke in favor of the project, claiming it would generate ten times more jobs than the development of the Comcast Technology Center, along with significant tax revenue for the township.
However, when faced with opposition, O’Neil’s responses were perceived by many attendees as defensive and lacking empathy toward community concerns. When asked to provide studies or research demonstrating that the data centers would not negatively impact the environment in Upper Merion, his answers left many questions unresolved. He often deflected inquiries, referring residents to his engineering team to address specific concerns.
As the discussion continued and more questions were raised, the meeting reached its scheduled end at 10:00 p.m. without any official decision being made.
Further updates will be provided as the proposal progresses. Copies of the application documents are available on the township’s website at umtownship.org, and a recording of the meeting can be found on the Upper Merion Township’s Vimeo page.