Neighbors, our research into this proposal just got a massive boost from the experts. The Chester County Planning Commission (CCPC) recently released an official Data Center Ordinance Guide (April 2026). This document is the "gold standard" for our region, and it confirms exactly what we’ve been saying: 500 East Reeceville Road is the wrong spot for an industrial data center.
Read it for yourself!
https://www.chescoplanning.org/UandI/DataCenters/pdf/DataCenterOrdinanceGuide.pdf
Here is the "Economic Reality" according to the County’s own experts:
The County Guide explicitly states that "data centers generate fewer permanent jobs by square footage compared to other industrial and research & development uses". While the developer talks about "growth," the reality is a skeleton crew of 15–30 people.
The Guide warns that municipalities like East Brandywine, which rely on Earned Income Tax (EIT), "stand to gain less from data center developments than those with real estate taxes".
While the building itself is taxed, the hundreds of millions of dollars of servers and computing infrastructure inside are legally classified as "equipment" and are often 100% tax-exempt under Pennsylvania law. We get the industrial noise and massive power draw, but the township misses out on the real wealth inside the building.
The County is clear—data centers are "most appropriate in heavy industrial settings," typically located away from residential or "sensitive uses" like our homes and schools.
The County recommends a 1,000-foot safety buffer between these facilities and our front doors. This developer is trying to squeeze a massive industrial use onto a parcel that simply cannot meet these expert safety standards.
What you can do:
Share this update! Let’s get the word out that the County's own planning experts agree with us.
Mark your calendars: The hearing is expected to be rescheduled for August 20th. We need to show the Board that we are armed with the County’s own facts.
Thank you for your continued support. Let’s keep the pressure on!