Crowds pack Orangetown Town Hall as controversial data center expansion faces Planning Board review
The Orangetown Planning Board heard a detailed presentation from DataBank Inc. on its proposed Phase 2 expansion, while dozens of neighbors waited for the opportunity to speak against the project.
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A controversial proposal to expand a data center campus in Orangetown drew a packed crowd Wednesday night, as residents filled Town Hall to voice concerns over the project’s potential impact on the surrounding community.
The Orangetown Planning Board heard a detailed presentation from DataBank Inc. on its proposed Phase 2 expansion, while dozens of neighbors waited for the opportunity to speak against the project. As of Wednesday evening, it remained unclear when the board would vote.
Outside Town Hall, protesters rallied against the proposal, chanting “Stop DataBank” and raising concerns about noise, pollution and the growing role of artificial intelligence.
The proposed expansion would be added to DataBank’s existing campus near Lake Tappan.
Inside the meeting, company officials pushed back against criticism, saying misinformation has fueled public concern.
Nearby resident David Rosen, whose property borders the existing DataBank campus, said he remains worried about the impact of the expansion.
“I’m concerned about noise and emissions from these generators that they’re proposing to put behind my property,” Rosen said.
One of the key questions surrounding the proposal is whether Orangetown’s recently adopted moratorium on new data centers applies to the Phase 2 application. The company submitted its application before the moratorium was approved, but opponents argue the expansion should still be subject to the new restrictions because the proposed facility has not yet been built.
The debate has become one of the most closely watched development issues in Rockland County, with residents sharply divided over the balance between economic development and environmental and quality-of-life concerns.
The Planning Board had not reached a decision by News 12’s deadline. News 12 will continue to follow the meeting and provide updates on the board’s vote and the future of the proposed DataBank expansion.
