Chester County · East Vincent Township · #CU-01-26-18783
Pennhurst Data Centers
East Vincent Township, PA · 1,381,268 sq ft non-residential, data center · 124.6 acres
About this project
A conditional use for five data center buildings, an office building, two guard stations, parking and stormwater basins on about 124.6 acres in the Industrial Mixed Use district of East Vincent Township, totaling about 1.38 million sq. ft.
Official description: Proposed data center consisting of 5 buildings, an office building, 2 guard stations, parking, and stormwater basins. Description by Applicant: The Applicant is proposing to construct data centers and an office building within the Industrial Mixed Use (IMU) District in East Vincent Township.
- Plan type
- Conditional use
- Land use
- Unique
- Status
- Reviewed
Filing history
- 2026-01-14 · #CU-01-26-18783 · Conditional use · 1,381,268 sq ft
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
Pennhurst Data Centers proposed five data center buildings, an office building, two guard stations, parking and stormwater basins. The project would cover about 124.6 acres and total about 1.38 million square feet. The land is the former Pennhurst State School and Hospital grounds in East Vincent Township. It is zoned Industrial Mixed Use, where data centers are allowed only after a conditional use approval. Later hearings treated the project as one that would be part of a larger campus.
The proposal drew strong local opposition. Residents raised concerns about electricity and water use, and about effects on nearby homes, trails and open space. The township planning commission recommended rejection, and that recommendation is not binding. News reports say the township supervisors voted unanimously in May 2026 to deny the conditional use application. The developer has said it will ask a court to review the denial. No end user for the data centers was named in the sources found. Reports give different sizes, from 1.3 to 1.9 million square feet, depending on the plan version.
What it could mean nearby
- Residents cited high electricity and water demand as concerns, though the sources found give no figures.
- Neighbors worried about effects on nearby homes, trails and open space.
- The records and sources found give no traffic, jobs or school figures.
Where it stands
The township supervisors denied the conditional use application in May 2026, and the developer has said it will appeal. Next, the township issues a written denial, and the developer would then have a short window to file for court review.
- May 2026 Township supervisors unanimously denied the conditional use application; the developer said it would seek court review
- Apr 2026 Conditional use hearings began, and the planning commission again recommended rejection
- Jan 14, 2026 Latest county filing for the project
- Oct 2025 Resident pushback and an online petition reported
Want to weigh in? The East Vincent Township Board of Supervisors made the decision, so any further review would now be in court, not at a public meeting.
Who's behind it
Pennhurst Holdings LLC · The company that owns the former Pennhurst site and brought the data center application. News reports say it intends to sell the land to a data center developer.
Around the web
- East Vincent rejects Pennhurst data center proposal; developer plans to take fight to courtWFMZ · May 26, 2026Reports the supervisors' denial and the developer's plan to seek court review.
- East Vincent, PA Supervisors Unanimously Reject Data Center ProposalFood & Water Watch · May 22, 2026Reports the unanimous denial of the conditional use application.
- First conditional hearing for proposed Pennhurst data center sees tensions run highThe Philadelphia Inquirer · Apr 21, 2026Describes the tense first conditional use hearing in April 2026.
- Data Center Planned At Defunct Philly-Area Hospital Faces PushbackBisnow · Oct 13, 2025Covers resident concerns about power, water and nearby open space, and a petition.
Planning terms explained
- Conditional use
- A use that the zoning allows only if the township governing body approves it after a public hearing and finds it meets set standards.
- Industrial Mixed Use district
- A zoning area that allows a mix of industrial and other business uses.
- Planning commission
- A local advisory board that reviews proposals and makes non-binding recommendations to the elected supervisors.
- Stormwater basin
- A built pond or depression that collects and slows rainwater runoff from paved and roofed areas.
- Judicial review
- A court's review of whether a government body's decision followed the law.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $966.9M
- ~6,906 roofing squares (assumes 2 stories)
- ~3,453 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)
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