LEWISTOWN — Speculation surrounding a potential data center project in Granville Township continues to circulate on social media, though local officials say no formal land development application has been submitted at this time.

Resident concerns have fueled numerous Facebook discussions and online petitions urging local officials to block any potential project from moving forward.

The Mifflin County Commissioners addressed the issue last week, calling on Granville Township officials to hold a public meeting to improve transparency and provide information to residents.

During a recent interview, James Lettiere, director of the Mifflin County Planning Department, said the department has not received an application related to development of a data center in Granville Township.

“Of course there is substantial discourse on social media regarding a potential site in Granville Township. However, at this time I can’t substantiate this,” Lettiere said.

Lettiere said the planning department has prepared a draft county data center ordinance that would amend the county’s subdivision and land development ordinance by adding regulations specific to data centers.

According to Lettiere, the proposed ordinance would apply only to Bratton and Wayne townships and the boroughs of Juniata Terrace, Kistler, Newtown Hamilton and McVeytown.

He noted that all other municipalities in the county maintain their own zoning and/or subdivision and land development ordinances.

“We are looking at having the Mifflin County Planning Commission provide a recommendation to the County Commissioners on or around the end of July, for possible adoption by the commissioners in August this year. However, these timelines are tentative and may change,” Lettiere said.

The planning department is also preparing a countywide data center guidance document, which remains in draft form and is not yet publicly available.

“Our County Commissioners encouraged Granville Township to arrange a public forum to discuss information regarding a data center in Granville Township,” Lettiere said.

Lettiere said several possible meeting dates and times have been discussed, though no official meeting date, time or location has been announced.

He is expected to discuss both the draft ordinance and guidance document in greater detail during the May 28 meeting of the Mifflin County Planning Commission.