Archbald denies 18-building data center campus during special Friday afternoon meeting

Archbald Borough Council unanimously denied a conditional use permit for Archbald I LLC to construct an 18-building data center campus near Ed Staback Memorial Park. This decision, met with cheers from over 200 opposing residents, prevents the project from proceeding in the borough. The denial, by a 5-0 vote, came after council members Erin Owen and Joseph Altier initiated the motion. Solicitor James O’Connor stated the decision was made to prevent a "deemed approval" of the application under the Pennsylvania Municipal Code, due to an incomplete record where the developer presented only two witnesses and other parties had no opportunity to present evidence or comment. The expedited decision was prompted by a "clerical error" by The Times-Tribune newspaper, which failed to publish a legal notice for a scheduled hearing, creating a 45-day deadline for council action that the developer, Archbald I LLC, refused to extend. Residents, organized by groups like Stop Archbald Data Centers, voiced numerous objections, citing the developer's failure to provide mandatory documentation for electric and water capacity, pre-construction sound studies, approvals for steep slope exemptions, and consultation with emergency officials on security. They also highlighted the developer's inability to demonstrate the project would not adversely affect community health, safety, and the environment. Archbald I LLC is a division of Dallas-based real estate firm Provident Data Centers, led by Leon Backes and Jay Hawes.