December 17, 2025
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) has taken a significant step toward the potential development of a massive hyperscale data center campus in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, marking a pivotal moment in the region's emergence as a new hub for digital infrastructure. The proposal underscores the accelerating demand for facilities to power cloud computing, streaming, and AI, while also highlighting the complex regulatory and community challenges that accompany such large-scale industrial projects.
Commission officials confirmed this week that they have formally accepted preliminary plans for the "Atlas Industrial" data center, a project slated for a 2493 N. Cedar Crest Blvd. parcel directly across from Parkland High School. The site, currently largely undeveloped, is proposed to house a campus of six buildings and an electrical substation, encompassing a total of 5.1 million square feet. While the LVPC has accepted the plans for review, a thorough technical and environmental evaluation is scheduled for its January 2026 meeting.
The Atlas project, along with a separate 2.6 million-square-foot proposal on Cetronia Road, represents the first wave of hyperscale data center proposals in the Lehigh Valley. LVPC Chief Community and Regional Planner Jill Seitz noted the comparative readiness of the Atlas submission, describing it as “a much more complete submission compared to the ones that we just reviewed for the Cetronia Road data center.” The scale of these facilities, defined as co-location campuses spanning millions of square feet, is a novelty for an area more accustomed to local business data facilities typically around 20,000 square feet.
The approval process is expected to encounter scrutiny and potential resistance. LVPC officials have openly acknowledged widespread community concerns regarding environmental impacts, strain on water and electrical infrastructure, noise, and aesthetics. In response, the commission is developing an Industrial Land Use Guide to help municipalities manage such developments. Seitz emphasized the trend, stating, “The primary land use of interest in Lehigh County right now is data centers, particularly large scale, or what's known as hyperscale data centers." She explained their critical function, noting, "These facilities operate 24 hours a day, and must maintain uninterrupted power and cooling to keep the equipment functioning,” which generates significant operational demands.
Municipalities like South Whitehall, which recently updated its zoning regulations in anticipation of data center interest, cannot reject a project solely because it is unpopular. However, they can regulate development through comprehensive plans and ordinances, provided they establish a valid public purpose. The impending review will thus focus intensely on infrastructure capacity, environmental impact, and site design, setting a precedent for how the Lehigh Valley balances economic development with community welfare in the digital age.
Source: lehighvalleynews
Plans Advance for 5.1 Million-Square-Foot Hyperscale Data Center Near Pennsylvania High School
