Elizabeth Township officials are still evaluating a proposal to build a data center on the former U.S. Steel waste site on Henderson Road. The first public meeting, held Tuesday, turned contentious as neighbors expressed worries about the project’s scale, potential impact on home values, and environmental effects.
Community concerns raised at town hall
Scott Taylor, a resident and spokesperson for the group Protect Elizabeth Township, highlighted several issues. “The scale of it. It’s an industrial use being looked at for a residential area, less than half a mile from a very large home plan. Home values, environmental impacts with the noise, the water, the air pollution,” he said.
Other attendees echoed Taylor’s concerns, questioning how a large industrial facility could coexist with the township’s growing residential neighborhoods.
Developer’s vision for the site
Tim Hendricks, representing the Eastern Pennsylvania‑based development team, described the project as a redevelopment of a brownfield that had previously been unusable. “It was previously an environmental cleanup site, so we’re kind of redeveloping it. Browns field, that was unusable for a lot of other things. And there’s gas lines there. There’s a number of features to the property. It made a lot of sense,” Hendricks explained.
The plan calls for roughly 20 buildings to occupy about one‑third of the 550‑acre property. The facility would generate its own power and operate a closed‑loop water system, drawing water from a public source or bringing it in as needed.
Hendricks emphasized the economic benefits, estimating up to 300 full‑time, high‑paying jobs and an annual tax contribution of $125 million. Those figures have prompted township commissioners to consider the proposal seriously.
Commissioners’ next steps
Commissioner Adam Musisko said the board is still in a fact‑finding phase. “Let’s see what he has to say. And that’s where we’re at. We’re fact‑finding: is this true or do we stand with the residents here and find a reason not to do it?” he remarked.
Under Governor Josh Shapiro’s recent data‑center regulations, developers must disclose the end user—such as Amazon or Facebook—and obtain local approval before the state can issue certain permits. The township will need to verify those details before any permits are granted.
The developers and commissioners plan to hold a follow‑up debrief meeting soon to determine the next steps. If the project proceeds, another public meeting will likely be scheduled to keep residents informed.
What residents can expect
While the proposal is still in its early stages, the township has pledged transparency. Residents are encouraged to attend future meetings, submit written comments, and stay engaged as the commission reviews the developer’s plans against community interests and state regulations.
Elizabeth Township’s leadership says the goal is to balance economic development with the quality‑of‑life concerns that many longtime residents have voiced.
Original reporting: WTAE (Hearst) – local — read the source article.
