Upper Merion Board Unanimously Rejects Brian O'Neill Data Center

The Upper Merion Township Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected a proposal by developer Brian O'Neill to construct a data center campus totaling approximately 5 million square feet across five properties in the Swedeland section of King of Prussia. The decision followed a contentious meeting where officials dismissed the applications as speculative and lacking necessary detail, despite O'Neill's claims that the AI-powered biotech facilities would generate $55 million in annual tax revenue and thousands of jobs.

The vote occurred after a legal battle in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. O'Neill, representing MLP Ventures and Innovation 411 Fee Owner LLC, had filed a lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction to compel the board to grant extensions for his land development applications. While a judge initially halted proceedings, Judge Garrett D. Page vacated the injunction on August 13, ordering the board to render a final decision by the end of that evening's meeting.

Community opposition was intense, with a Change.org petition gathering over 17,000 signatures from residents concerned about noise, light pollution, water usage, and air quality. The final meeting was marked by personal friction, with Vice Chair William Jenaway accusing O'Neill of bullying and intimidation toward the board and professional staff. O'Neill has indicated he intends to appeal the rejection.