At the regular monthly meeting of the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, several local residents voiced strong opposition to recent revisions of a proposed data‑center ordinance. The changes, which would lower height limits, increase allowable noise levels, and reduce required setbacks from homes, prompted calls for stricter protections.
Residents demand a 1,000‑foot buffer
Shelley Meyers, a resident of Dunbar Township, expressed alarm over the draft’s higher decibel allowance and the reduction of setbacks from 1,000 feet to as low as 500 feet. “Would you want a data center in your backyard? We really need to be looking closely at this and protect our residents of Fayette County,” she said.
Survey data presented by Nate Ricketts, an organizer with the Mountain Watershed Association, showed that 80 % of respondents feel there is “no comfortable distance” from a data center. Ricketts noted that the original 1,000‑foot setback had been cut to 600 feet for general properties and as low as 500 feet for occupied residences.
Calls for sustainable energy options
Ohiopyle resident Annelise Carleton‑Hug supported restoring the 1,000‑foot buffer and urged the inclusion of renewable‑energy language in the ordinance. “I realize we’re sitting on the shale here, but we could get more solar power to power these,” she said. “That would have less impact on future climate change and how that would further impact our community.”
Commissioners weigh the proposals
Commissioner Harry “Dutch” Kaufman reminded the audience that the planning commission’s recommendations are advisory, not binding. “We certainly want their input, but ultimately it’s going to come down to what the commissioners decide,” he said, adding that a revised draft will be prepared before the next public meeting.
Commissioner Vince Vicites said he is “pushing very hard for stringent setbacks,” while Chairman Scott Dunn warned that overly restrictive zoning could be deemed exclusionary. “If our data‑center zoning is so much different than other industrial zoning, the data center can sue us in court,” Dunn cautioned.
Next steps
The board plans to vote in November on a motion to schedule a public hearing on the ordinance. The hearing must occur at least 30 days after the scheduling vote, giving residents additional time to review the final draft and submit comments.
Stakeholders on both sides of the issue will continue to monitor the process. Residents hope the final ordinance will preserve the rural character of Fayette County, protect property values, and encourage clean‑energy solutions, while commissioners stress the need to balance economic development with community safeguards.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
