Granville zoning board hears data center appeal
Developers challenge township's rejection of permit application over traffic study certification
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Approximately 150 people attended the hearing, which was rescheduled from Oct. 1 after residents raised concerns that the Granville Township Municipal Building could not accommodate everyone who wanted to attend.
Attorney Shawn Gallinger, representing PA Data Center Partners, challenged the township’s decision to reject the application, arguing that officials exceeded their authority during the initial review.
“It’s a question of whether the zoning officer incorrectly misinterpreted the zoning ordinance in reviewing our application,” Gallinger said.
Township Manager Mary Herto previously rejected the application after determining that a required certification for the project’s traffic impact study was missing.
Gallinger argued that the application contained all necessary components and that the traffic study had been properly certified. He also questioned whether Herto had the authority to reject the application during the initial review process.
During questioning, Herto testified that her role was to conduct an administrative review to ensure the application included all required materials before forwarding it for a formal technical review.
Township officials maintain that the application required a separate certification covering the traffic impact study in its entirety and that the developers failed to provide that document.
The township also questioned the credentials of the engineer who certified portions of the traffic study, arguing that he was not registered as a professional engineer during much of the period when he worked on the project. According to the township’s position presented at the hearing, the engineer did not obtain his professional registration until May 2026.
Gallinger disputed the township’s interpretation of the application requirements, maintaining that the submitted materials satisfied the zoning ordinance.
The hearing included testimony from Catherine Wilsbach, director of land development at LIVIC Civil, a Pennsylvania-based engineering and land development firm that prepared the developers’ application.
Gallinger questioned Wilsbach about her responsibilities and experience overseeing similar land development applications.
Granville Township zoning hearing board solicitor Jeff Stover and attorney Bill Cluck, representing the nonprofit No Data Centers in Mifflin County, also participated in the proceedings.
The dispute centers on whether township officials properly applied the zoning ordinance when reviewing the developers’ submission, rather than the broader merits of constructing a data center.
Following testimony, the parties agreed to submit legal briefs outlining their respective arguments.
The zoning hearing board is expected to reconvene in January to deliberate and consider a decision on the appeal.