Southtowns Record

Planning Board Regular Meeting, Aug 5, 2026 — Minutes

Government
Town of Hamburg
Board
Planning Board
Meeting
Aug 5, 2026
Kind
Minutes
Topics
Zoning and land use, Water, sewer and drainage, Public safety, Roads and traffic, Energy and data center siting, Budget and taxes, Housing, Parks and recreation

Original document

Same meeting

Text · page 7 of 14

Town of Hamburg Planning Board Minutes  August 5, 2026

  •  This project is not zoned for this piece of property
  •  This is a highly dangerous project. The reports talk about the flammable gases,
  how the Fire Department cannot lay down a hose, and answers are needed.
  •  In the past when before the Planning Board, conflicting information was
  presented about past fires. In May when asked about past fires, a member of the
  Applicant’s committee informed the Board that there was one fire when there
  were in fact five (5). The Board was told that a fire that occurred in Australia was
  a different kind of battery, and it was then revealed that it was not a different kind
  of battery.

Member Quandt stated that if the Board allows the Applicant’s expert to speak tonight,
he would like it to be noted that in relation to the Emergency Response Plan (page 6) it
explicitly states that this document should not be provided externally until agreed upon
by all responsible parties and it has been submitted. It further states that this document
is not meant to serve as professional and credentialed engineering, legal, technical or
emergency response judgement and that ESRG disclaims all liability for personal
wrongful death resulting from the use of this document.

Ms. Parker-Fann asked what amount of lead time does the Planning Board need so that
they can provide all requested information?

Mr. Rogers responded that the lead time depends on the date the project is tabled to.

Chair Gronachan feels the September 2, 2026, Planning Board meeting is appropriate
so that they can reach out to the experts and have the materials submitted by August
19, 2026.

Mr. Rogers explained that public hearings are technically not required under SEQR, but
given the magnitude of this project, he assumes that the Planning Board would want
public input on the September 2nd meeting.

Chair Gronachan affirmed that they would want public input and asked that a public
hearing be scheduled for that meeting.

The Applicant stated they are willing to reach out to the railroad companies as well as
the Planning Department to try and get a response.

Member Ryan stated she would like a vibration analysis due to the fact that this project
is going to be located between two heavily used tracks.

Andrew Welch, Director of RIC Energy explained that the basic answer to the vibration
concern is that the cabinets are designed for and placed on concrete pads. They are
going to be able to withstand and absorb any vibrations through the concrete pads

  7