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- calendar_today October 21, 2026
Developers Pull Plans for Major Data Center Project in King of Prussia
MLP Ventures and developer Brian O'Neill have withdrawn their applications to build a sprawling data center campus in King of Prussia. The decision comes during ongoing lawsuits against Upper Merion Township over a high-profile zoning dispute, leaving the future of the controversial project uncertain.
Background of the Controversial Proposal
In April, MLP Ventures proposed developing a 4.5 million-square-foot campus with five data centers along Renaissance Boulevard and other sites in Upper Merion Township. The intention was to establish facilities powering artificial intelligence and biotechnology operations. However, strong opposition quickly emerged from local residents, who raised concerns about the project's heavy energy and water consumption, noise and light pollution, and potential negative impact on property values. Over 18,000 people signed an online petition against the proposal, citing fears about the scale of the development, which would have been larger than the Philadelphia International Airport.
Township Response and Regulatory Hurdles
The Upper Merion Planning Commission voted against recommending three of the data centers in July, and by August, the Board of Supervisors had rejected all five proposed facilities. Township officials argued that the developers had not sufficiently addressed community and environmental impacts, nor complied with rigorous new zoning requirements put in place by an ordinance adopted in March. The developers responded by filing seven applications with the Zoning Hearing Board, seeking to overturn the earlier determination or obtain variances to proceed.
Legal Action and Application Withdrawal
Earlier in October, the Zoning Hearing Board decided to dismiss the developers' appeals, stating it lacked jurisdiction. As a result, MLP Ventures withdrew its applications on Monday, and a scheduled hearing was canceled. According to a township statement, "There are now no remaining claims for the Applicants to present before the Township Zoning Hearing Board." The developers and their attorney, Marc Kaplin, have not commented publicly on their next steps.
Economic Claims and Community Division
Prior to the township’s August rejection, the developers shared an economic impact study claiming the King of Prussia data center project would support 15,000 construction jobs per year and generate $55.4 million in annual local tax revenue. The proposal called for on-site electricity generation, closed-loop water systems for cooling, and compliance with local noise abatement rules. The project was also projected to create 717 permanent jobs, some offering six-figure salaries without requiring a four-year degree.
Despite these claims, opposition groups such as Upper Merion Against Data Centers remain vigilant. In a Facebook post, the group urged residents to "stay informed and stay vigilant," highlighting ongoing community concerns about environmental and quality-of-life impacts.
Lawsuits Continue Over Zoning Dispute
MLP Ventures and its partners have filed lawsuits in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, challenging new zoning laws in Upper Merion Township. The developers contend that their applications, submitted ahead of the stricter ordinance’s adoption, should be evaluated under prior regulations that would classify the data centers as warehouses. Now that local paths have reached an impasse, the developers appear to be seeking judicial resolution regarding whether their proposal can go forward under the previous zoning framework.
Related Data Center Projects and Political Context
MLP Ventures and O'Neill are also pursuing a smaller, 2 million-square-foot data center development in nearby Plymouth Township. That project, on the site of a former steel plant, has seen its own share of legal and community challenges. An associated economic impact study claims it would support 5,000 annual construction jobs and create 371 permanent positions. Both projects have encountered vocal resistance from local residents.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro issued an executive order in August increasing regulatory oversight of data center development, requiring local approval and new transparency and energy infrastructure rules. A recent Quinnipiac poll found that 64% of likely Pennsylvania voters believe data centers would do more harm than good for the state, with the issue playing a role in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
What’s Next for Data Center Development in Upper Merion?
With development applications withdrawn and lawsuits pending, the fate of the King of Prussia data center project remains unresolved. Whether the courts will side with developers on the zoning dispute, or if local opposition will ultimately halt the project, remains to be seen.
Source: phillyvoice.com.
