False Post Claims Neshaminy Mall Will Become Data Center

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — The notice came from the Bensalem Township Planning Commission about plans being approved for a new state-of-the art data center.

The location: The Neshaminy Mall.

The notice: A scam.

"It will never happen," Bensalem Township Council President Ed Tokmajian told Patch on Tuesday. "This was false information. There is no way that the Neshaminy Mall will become a data center."

Township officials said a notice was posted on social media from someone impersonating the Bensalem Township’s Planning Commission about an approved data center submission.

"This post is completely false," township officials said. "The Township does not have any data center applications submitted or in review."

Tokmajian said the township is taking steps to ensure data centers never become part of Bensalem's future.

At its June 8 meeting, the Township Council approved a Curative Amendment that allows the township to suspend data centers and amend the zoning ordinance to regulate these facilities.

The council president said that vote calls for a six-month moratorium, allowing Solicitor Joseph Pizzo to draft ordinances to protect the township.

Governments in many municipalities in the Philadelphia region are scrambling to put together ordinances to protect themselves from data centers, which they say will be a major drain on their power and energy resources.

In nearby Falls Township, residents have appeared at township supervisors' meetings to protest plans for one of two proposed data centers in the state that are being pushed by Amazon.

"I don't think anyone anticipated this," Tokmajian said. "We're trying to get ahead of this in Bensalem."

As far as the fake post, the council president said that "someone is trying to drum up chaos that is not needed and unwarranted in Bensalem."

"The planning commission doesn't even have a Facebook page," he remarked.

(Bensalem Township)