For a second time, the Springdale Planning Commission opted on Wednesday to postpone its recommendation to borough council to approve or deny a massive data center project.

The planning commission will reconvene to try again Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m.

In late September, the three-member commission delayed its decision, opting to further analyze the details of the project.

Now, Springdale Solicitor Craig Alexander said the group wants the opportunity to submit further questions to Allegheny DC Property Co., the property developer behind the data center.

One of the commission’s main concerns is the potential noise level of the massive complex, Alexander said.

Anna Jewart, a Pittsburgh-based attorney representing Allegheny DC, said the developer is working on a noise study, which it plans to present with the aid of expert witnesses.

It’s unclear whether the borough will commission a study of its own.

Dozens of residents, many of whom lingered outside well before the meeting began, again filled council chambers.

The Wednesday evening meeting was originally set to be a brief announcement of the commission’s recommendation without a public comment period.

But the body allowed several speakers to take the podium. Most continued to raise concerns about noise, power usage and potential health hazards.

Resident John Murray said he was concerned about outages as a result of the center’s massive power consumption.

Developers have projected the complex could draw a maximum of 180 megawatts of electricity at any one time.

“My wife’s on an oxygen concentrator,” Murray said. “What happens when we get the brownouts — she don’t breath?”

Others, like Debbie Piontek, continued to advocate for greater community involvement in the project, including the creation of local liaisons from Springdale and Cheswick.

The commission’s decision to hold off on a recommendation means Springdale Council will likely hold its public hearing next Thursday without the group’s input.

The council could even feasibly vote to approve the project next week.

But Alexander said he doesn’t expect a vote from council yet.

Present at the meeting, Councilman Dan Copeland said he personally wouldn’t vote on the project without hearing the commission’s recommendation.

Council must approve or reject the application before Nov. 26, or it will be deemed to be automatically approved.

The council’s public hearing is set for Oct. 16 at 6 p.m.

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