5-Town residents pack zoning meeting over data center concerns
The concern follows the discovery of EQT Ventures LLC holding an exclusive option to purchase the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel property in Allenport.
Long before the Mid Mon Valley Multi-Municipal Zoning Hearing Board called its first case Wednesday night, every seat inside the Dunlevy Borough Municipal Building was filled, as residents lined the walls and others spilled into the entranceway, all united by one concern: stopping a potential artificial intelligence data center before it reaches their communities.
Officials estimated more than 80 residents from the Five-Town communities, including Allenport, Stockdale, Roscoe, Elco and Dunlevy, attended the meeting, exceeding the building’s posted capacity, after local officials and community members encouraged residents to become involved early amid growing concerns over a potential AI development tied to the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel mill property in Allenport.
The concern follows the discovery of Washington County real estate records showing EQT Ventures LLC holds an exclusive option to purchase approximately 400 acres comprising the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel mill, now known as Mon River Industrial Park.
The property spans Allenport, Dunlevy and Stockdale boroughs and has operated as a multi-tenant industrial park since steelmaking ended in 2008.
Although no land development or zoning application has been filed, residents’ concerns intensified after EQT launched its “Monongahela Valley” website promoting a 400acre site for artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The website describes the location as having abundant natural gas, water resources, transportation access and electrical transmission, states the company has “secured a purchase option” and says the property’s existing zoning is compatible with the proposed use.
Before the board turned to its scheduled agenda, Chairman Paul Doman addressed the reason nearly everyone had come.
“We have nothing in front of us regarding what most of you are here to talk about,” Doman told the standing-room-only crowd. “But we are going to allow two representatives to speak.”
Prioritizing people
Despite the absence of any application involving EQT or a data center, residents from Stockdale, Allenport, Dunlevy, Roscoe, Elco, Belle Vernon and Charleroi filled the room to urge local officials to begin preparing before any proposal reaches their communities.
Stockdale Councilwomen Sherri Martin, left, and Bobbi Schoch were permitted to address the audience over concerns of development of a data center in their community. Taylor Brown / MVI
Leading that effort were Stockdale Councilwomen Sherri Martin and Bobbi Schoch, who said information about EQT’s purchase option and the company’s website began circulating among residents in recent days, prompting communities to organize quickly.
“To help you understand our passion about this topic, I just want to share just a little bit about ourselves personally so that you understand our connection,” Martin said. “My family’s connection includes all five towns and dates back to the 1800s… Bobbi and I both currently serve as Stockdale Borough Council members, and we’re here tonight to speak on behalf of the entire Stockdale Council, Stockdale residents, concerned neighboring residents and our friends and our families.”
Martin thanked the zoning board for allowing the discussion even though it was not part of the agenda.
“We hope that at the end of our presentation, the zoning board will understand what you’re charged to do and understand our expectations that we have of the board to protect our communities and our way of life.”
Martin said residents first became concerned after hearing reports of land purchase inquiries involving local property owners while also discovering EQT’s online project materials.
“Many of us in attendance have started to hear chatter circulated around our towns about land purchase offers and inquiries to local landowners,” Martin said. “In addition, online marketing has surfaced with EQT executive Mike Starck named as head of new ventures. This online piece even outlines particular areas of interest for land they’d like to build on.”
She argued zoning ordinances represent the communities’ strongest opportunity to prepare before any project advances.
“As most of us know by now, because we’ve learned a lot in the last six days, zoning ordinances are the most effective defense in deterring multibillion-dollar companies from building data centers where they aren’t wanted.”
Martin said residents were asking local officials for two immediate commitments.
“One is for total transparency before any decisions are made, whether it be by the zoning board or the local councils, and two, for enforceable moratoriums and/or ordinances that are so completely cumbersome and restrictive that they will deter EQT or any other data center-minded corporation from coming to our communities.
“The expectation is that you have some power to protect us, and that’s what we’re asking you to do. We do not want data centers invading our lives and our communities.”
The presentation lasted nearly 30 minutes, during which Martin and Schoch outlined what they described as documented impacts experienced by communities located near large-scale data centers. They cited continuous equipment noise, light pollution, water consumption, increased electricity demand, diesel generator emissions, environmental concerns and declining property values while playing videos from residents and public hearings in other states.
Schoch said residents are not opposed to economic development but want decisions based on facts and public participation.
“Residents are not asking for rumor, fear or speculation that will guide decisions,” Schoch said. “We want facts. We want public meetings. We want independent review, and we want enough time for elected officials to understand the true impact before any approvals are granted.”
She called for a six-month moratorium on data center-related applications, permits, zoning changes and infrastructure agreements while municipalities review their ordinances and potential impacts.
The board, however, explained its authority is limited under Pennsylvania law. Dennis Martinak, planning consultant to the zoning hearing board and zoning officer for the participating municipalities, said municipalities cannot simply prohibit a legal land use through zoning.
“The one good thing we have going for us right now is we do have zoning in place,” Martinak said. “The next step that we have legally in front of us that can be done by municipalities is to do what’s called a municipal curative amendment.”
Martinak said if each municipality adopts a municipal curative amendment, state law provides a 180-day review period during which officials could evaluate regulations governing data centers, artificial intelligence facilities and related energy infrastructure.
He also emphasized the zoning hearing board cannot establish policy.
“This group, so everyone understands, the zoning hearing board administers the zoning ordinance. They do not create policy.”
Nor, he said, can municipalities simply ban a use.
“You cannot exclude any uses. And if you try to do that, we’ll be in court, and we’ll probably lose a lot of money from our municipalities.”
Martinak encouraged residents to continue attending borough council meetings and to contact state and federal legislators if they want changes to Pennsylvania’s Municipalities Planning Code. He also urged residents to support their municipalities if officials pursue the curative amendment process.
What we know
The background driving residents’ concerns is documented in Washington County real estate records.
EQT Ventures LLC holds an exclusive option to purchase approximately 400 acres comprising the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel mill, now known as Mon River Industrial Park, in Allenport. Jeff Helsel / Mon Valley Independent
Mon River Partners L.P. granted EQT Ventures LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of EQT Corp., an exclusive option to purchase the property through an agreement executed Sept. 11, 2025. A First Amendment, signed April 14 and recorded April 17, extended that option through April 20, 2026, with the right to extend it through Oct. 19, 2026. The documents preserve EQT’s exclusive right to purchase the property but do not transfer ownership, which remains with Mon River Partners.
The amendment was signed on behalf of Mon River Partners by Louis D. Ruscitto, managing member of Mon River Partners GP LLC, and on behalf of EQT Ventures by Mike Starck, vice president of operations. Starck is also identified on EQT’s Monongahela Valley website as the company’s Head of New Ventures and serves as the public contact for the proposed project.
After hearing from residents, Doman reminded those in attendance that the hearing board still had scheduled business to conduct.
“I’ve got to bring this to an end because it wasn’t on our meeting agenda,” Doman said. “We’ve spent most of the time. I have two other matters that actually are on the agenda, which we have to address.”
The board then proceeded with two unrelated zoning hearings involving a special exception for a personal care facility in Elco Borough and a subdivision variance in Allenport Borough.
As residents filtered out of the municipal building, Martin said the turnout reinforced why she believes the effort is worthwhile.
“I’m so grateful for the residents who came out to support our efforts,” Martin said. “More than anything, I’m grateful people are willing to stand up for their communities and their families and protect one another.”
The Mon Valley Independent contacted EQT seeking comment regarding the company’s purchase option, its Monongahela Valley project and concerns raised by residents following Wednesday’s meeting.
A response was not received prior to press time.
