Judge rejects deemed approval of Breaker Street data centers in Jessup
A Lackawanna County judge rejected Breaker Street Associates LLC’s effort to have Jessup’s denial of plans for six data centers deemed approved. The project remains blocked by zoning issues involving a proposed switchyard in a residential area, while related appeals concerning both Breaker Street and Sunnyside Road Associates remain ongoing.
Judge Terrence R. Nealon denied Breaker Street Associates LLC’s mandamus request to compel Jessup to approve plans for a nearly 210-acre campus containing six data centers, an administrative building and a switchyard/substation. Nealon ruled that the developer’s voluntary submission of revised plans restarted the municipality’s 90-day review periods, allowing Jessup to properly deny the later application.
The project’s proposed electrical infrastructure was located in residentially zoned land, and Jessup amended its zoning ordinance to regulate and restrict data centers. Breaker Street is separately appealing the Jessup Zoning Hearing Board’s denial of zoning relief, while Sunnyside Road Associates, a related Catalyst Commercial Development entity, is appealing a height-variance denial for a separate data center near the Lackawanna Energy Center power plant. Both zoning appeals remain pending.