JESSUP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Soon, the landscape in northeastern Pennsylvania will look a lot different. Data centers are popping up all over the area, and Lackawanna County is a hot spot.
On Wednesday, one of the county's communities took steps in addressing its zoning ordinance for a proposed data center coming to its area.
Wednesday night, Jessup Borough officials held a meeting to address zoning ordinances in order to govern these data centers and enact stricter legislation.
Municipalities must make sure of proper legislation, or these data centers could bring about negative effects.
Data centers coming to NEPA could offer significant tax revenue and high-paying jobs.
But without them being properly legislated, residents like Bonnie Urzen are concerned the opposite of that could happen.
"How much would they put a strain on us versus how much would they benefit our community?" Jessup resident Bonnie Urzen asked.
In front of the Jessup Borough Council Wednesday evening, project officials presented different elements of Jessup's zoning ordinances in regards to the proposed data center.
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The power plant, transmission infrastructure, and ground in Jessup make it a good fit, according to project leaders.
"We're really focused on this effort, and they are working expeditiously to make projects like this come to fruition, and this site seems perfect and in line for that," CBRE Executive Vice President Jake Terkanian told 28/22 News.
Not the site that the borough council originally proposed, which was above the Casey Highway, but instead, project officials say somewhere more "powerful."
They say they evaluated Jessup to decide where the best location would be, and feel near the power station makes the most sense.
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According to the proposed plans, the center would be a multi-storied building at nearly 85 feet tall and 550-100,000 square feet.
Officials say the setback regarding residential areas would be around 200 feet.
"I was concerned about another big facility coming," Urzen added.
Those heading the big project say these measurements and proposed developments are typical to that of others in the commonwealth.
Urzen says that's exactly what she wants to know more about before it comes to her town.
"I would really be interested in knowing what other towns done, what they found, what they would do over again, but I think it's a we'll see," Urzen continued.
The council did not vote on it on Wednesday.
Project officials say many more meetings and steps still need to happen, but the land development project is next.
