Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect the correct agenda item.
CLIFTON TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — 28/22 News previously reported on a meeting to talk about a potential data center development in Covington Township. On Tuesday night, the same development was addressed in a neighboring township.
The Clifton Township Zoning Board met Tuesday for a hearing to discuss the township's fate in the potential development. That meeting, though, turned up short.
Hundreds of concerned residents packed the Gouldsboro fire hall Tuesday night, wanting to hear from the Clifton Township Zoning Board and potential developers about the township's ordinance on data centers.
The developer, 1778 Rich Pike LLC, and partial landowner of the site, JCO LLC, filed what is known as a substantive validity challenge against the township.
It states that the ordinance was invalid as it existed prior to May 22, as it did not allow for data centers anywhere in the township. According to Pennsylvania law, municipalities are required to allow for all 'legitimate land uses' within their borders. Any ordinance which excludes legitimate and legal land usage is invalid.
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Tuesday's hearing was supposed to resolve that challenge, but board members ended the meeting early, saying the developers did not have a zoning officer present and were unprepared.
Depending on what happens August 21 at a township supervisor meeting, Tuesday's hearing may reconvene on September 9.
People living in the area though just hope the data centers stay away.
"The increased price of electricity in the area is going to go up because of it, the demand on the roads. There's just not really any positive aspects in the residential quality of life and health about these data centers," Clifton Township Landowner Walter Barton told 28/22 News.
Gabriel Reyestomorrow we will be attending an energy, manufacturing, and rural opportunity roundtable in Williamsport, where we will be asking congressmen Rob Bresnahan, Dan Mueser, and Ryan Mackenzie where they stand when it comes to data center development.
