Let’s Get This (Gateway) Party Started
More than two dozen residents who live near the Smithfield Gateway data center site were granted party status at the Oct. 28 hearing, most with no objection from the applicant. Party status is the formal role that lets someone question witnesses and present evidence. As we reported Oct. 30, the Brodhead Watershed Association also got party status that night, and resident David Allen Bower was turned down.
According to our beta transcription and an AI-assisted summary of the township's video of the meeting, attorney Michael Fiorentino, who represents several residents, gave distances for his clients of roughly 190 to 600 feet from the developer's property, and some other residents said they live closer, as near as about 30 feet. Marc Kaplin, the attorney for the data center, told the board he would not fight standing for anyone living within three-quarters of a mile (that’s about 4,000 feet). Two other residents, who live about 1.1 miles and 1.9 miles away, were turned down because they are outside that radius.
The next session is not set. Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. are under discussion, Dec. 3 is out because of a school winter choir concert, and the final date depends on whether the school venue is free. The township solicitor also said on the record that the Planning Commission, which only advises the supervisors, failed to advance a motion to recommend approval with 25 conditions at its Oct. 21 meeting. A later motion to recommend denial with conditions is disputed.
This account is based on our beta transcription and an AI-assisted summary of the township's video of the Oct. 28 meeting. Minutes have not been posted, and names and figures will be checked against them once they are.
