[Photos: Columbia Spy]
THE ISSUE:
Residents packed the Columbia Borough Fire Department building May 26 to express concerns over a $6.35 million bid from New York-based developer Saadia to buy McGinness Innovation Park, a 41-acre borough-owned property. The focus of their objections: A Columbia Borough Council member said the developer was likely to propose building a data center on the property.
The free expression of public opinion that is essential to democracy was on full display May 26 in Columbia.
Folks turned out in good number to express their views to local elected officials about the possibility of a data center being built in their midst. The meeting lasted for nearly four hours. Some 40 residents spoke, nearly all in opposition to a potential data center.
So many people attended the borough council meeting that they exceeded the fire department building’s 300-person capacity. So — in an act of civic generosity — dozens of people chose to stand outside so the meeting could proceed.
“You were elected by the people, and the people are telling you what they want,” Columbia resident Juno Rigard told council members during the public comment period.
In the end, council members — bound to heed a technicality in state law — voted 7-0 against accepting the bid for McGinness Innovation Park.
Council Vice President Heather Zink said a motion to accept the Saadia bid couldn’t be approved as presented, because it didn’t meet a state law provision that requires the borough to receive payment within 60 days of council awarding the bid. An attorney representing Saadia at the meeting said she wasn’t able to change the bid, which promised payment after sketch plans for the project won borough approval.
Resident Lauren VonStetten — who was among those who warned about the increased utility costs and the drain on local water that often come with data centers — told LNP | LancasterOnline that she thought council would have approved the bid if not for the technicality.
Columbia Borough Council should know, without a sliver of doubt now, that local sentiment is running hot against data centers.
MORE HERE
THE LNP | LANCASTERONLINE EDITORIAL BOARD
Residents packed the Columbia Borough Fire Department building May 26 to express concerns over a $6.35 million bid from New York-based developer Saadia to buy McGinness Innovation Park, a 41-acre borough-owned property. The focus of their objections: A Columbia Borough Council member said the developer was likely to propose building a data center on the property.
The free expression of public opinion that is essential to democracy was on full display May 26 in Columbia.
Folks turned out in good number to express their views to local elected officials about the possibility of a data center being built in their midst. The meeting lasted for nearly four hours. Some 40 residents spoke, nearly all in opposition to a potential data center.
So many people attended the borough council meeting that they exceeded the fire department building’s 300-person capacity. So — in an act of civic generosity — dozens of people chose to stand outside so the meeting could proceed.
“You were elected by the people, and the people are telling you what they want,” Columbia resident Juno Rigard told council members during the public comment period.
In the end, council members — bound to heed a technicality in state law — voted 7-0 against accepting the bid for McGinness Innovation Park.
Council Vice President Heather Zink said a motion to accept the Saadia bid couldn’t be approved as presented, because it didn’t meet a state law provision that requires the borough to receive payment within 60 days of council awarding the bid. An attorney representing Saadia at the meeting said she wasn’t able to change the bid, which promised payment after sketch plans for the project won borough approval.
Resident Lauren VonStetten — who was among those who warned about the increased utility costs and the drain on local water that often come with data centers — told LNP | LancasterOnline that she thought council would have approved the bid if not for the technicality.
Columbia Borough Council should know, without a sliver of doubt now, that local sentiment is running hot against data centers.
MORE HERE
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