Pictured is a crowd at the latest Portland Town Board meeting gathered to oppose a data center targeting a property along Route 5 in the town. P-J photo by Braden Carmen

PORTLAND — Upon entry to the Portland Town Hall at the most recent meeting, it was clear that many people in the community had something to say about a data center eyeing Portland as a potential home. The crowd filled the courtroom and every seat was filled, with even more guests standing throughout the room.

After 45 minutes worth of public comments — entirely opposed to a data center in the town — the message was clear. In the days since, the words the community spoke have reverberated more than anyone could have expected.

Less than a week after the meeting, more than 2,000 people have signed a petition online through change.org in opposition of a data center to be located at 7060 Route 5 in Portland, the site of the former Sugar Hill Golf Course.

Portland resident Kelly Perlette organized the petition. In it, she stated her love for “the serene environment, the close-knit community, and the shared values that made this town more than just a place on the map.” She called the prospect of a data center in Portland “troubling and dissonant”, while saying it “clashes deeply with the spirit of our beloved town.”

WHERE IT STARTED

At a meeting on March 11, the Town Board passed a resolution expressing its “general support” of a potential data center project at the Sugar Hill Golf Course, which is no longer in operation. The resolution was vague, as the concept is in its infant stages. There has not been any formal application or detailed plans for a potential site submitted to the Town Board.

Town Supervisor Rich Lewis said of the potential of a data center project at the site, “At this point, it’s not an issue because nothing is happening.”

Before any project could be approved, the Town Board would need to receive site plans and environmental assessments, and the project would need to be deemed in compliance “with all applicable laws and regulations.” Public hearings would need to be scheduled before any project is approved.

The Town Board felt that a project could bring significant financial benefit to the town, which is roughly 50% tax exempt due to sites such as Lake Erie State Park and the Lakeview Shock Correctional Facility. The Board previously objected to an inquiry from New York State with an eye on Sugar Hill becoming a park.

In a statement read aloud at the recent meeting, Town Board member Tammy Thompson said, “The Town Board encourages responsible development that strengthens the local tax base. A stronger tax base benefits all taxpayers in the community.”

COMMUNITY OBJECTION

Many members of the community objected to a data center for a variety of reasons. Among the concerns raised by the public at the recent meeting were the energy and water costs to support the facility, the emissions produced and its proximity to Lake Erie, disturbance to the surrounding environment, safety concerns for nearby residents, and the lack of clear guidance from the state level regarding such facilities.

“New York’s proposed moratorium gives local governments a very clear signal – we should slow down, gather the facts, and make sure that community interests come first,” resident Matthew Susskraut said.

Near the end of the Town Board meeting, one resident asked the crowd to raise their hand if they opposed a data center being established at the targeted site on Route 5. Nearly every member of the audience raised their hand.

In the week following the meeting, that crowd of roughly 50 people grew to more than 2,200. More than 50 people made statements against a possible data center in Portland, while community groups such as Citizens Against Wind Turbines in Lake Erie and Westfield Concerned and Informed Citizens endorsed the petition, as well.

In the petition, Perlette said, “Chautauqua County’s beauty and integrity should not be compromised by decisions made without public consensus and thorough evaluation.”

Several residents, including Perlette, said the issue is not limited to the Sugar Hill site. Many fear that once one data center is established in the area, others could follow. Perlette fears that establishing the precedent for a data center could turn the region into “an industrial corridor” for similar projects.

Perlette urged Lewis and the Town Board to listen to the residents and members of surrounding communities who oppose the idea of a data center coming to the town. Perlette emphasized the protection of Lake Erie as a shared natural resource as a reason to oppose a data center coming to the Sugar Hill site, which is located along the shoreline.

In urging people to join her cause, Perlette said, “Let us preserve Portland’s essence for future generations and remain true to what this community truly stands for.”