Valley View School District lawsuit could halt Project Gravity data centers
The Valley View School District has filed a lawsuit against Project Gravity and the Borough of Archbald, aiming to halt the development of seven data centers. The lawsuit argues that the project should not be exempt from Archbald's stricter November 2025 zoning amendment, which limits data centers to specific overlay districts. If successful, the legal action could force Project Gravity to comply with the new zoning, which does not permit data centers on its 186-acre site.
The Valley View School District has initiated a lawsuit against Project Gravity, a proposed seven-data center campus, and the Borough of Archbald, seeking to compel the development to adhere to Archbald's stricter data center zoning amendment enacted in November 2025. Filed in county court by attorneys from Joyce, Carmody & Moran P.C., the lawsuit disputes Project Gravity's claim to be "grandfathered" under the borough's previous, more permissive March 2023 zoning ordinance. The school district contends that the 186-acre site, located near its intermediate, middle, and high school campus, should fall under the newer regulations, which restrict data centers to four specific overlay districts, none of which include Project Gravity's land.
The legal action names Archbald and its borough council, Archbald 25 Developer LLC (formerly Western Hospitality Partners – Jermyn LLC), and US Gravity Purchaser LLC as defendants. The school district's attorneys, Brendan N. Fitzgerald and Kyle Callejas, argue that Project Gravity's plans fail to meet various criteria under both the 2023 zoning and the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO), including issues with noise levels, accessory uses, and required plans like sedimentation control and traffic studies. The lawsuit also highlights the project's removal from the PA Permit Fast Track Program due to the developer's lack of responsiveness. The plaintiffs assert that neither Archbald 25 nor US Gravity Purchaser has vested rights to proceed under the legacy zoning and that US Gravity Purchaser, which acquired the property after the new regulations, is definitively subject to the current data center zoning. Archbald solicitor Jay O'Connor declined to comment on the active litigation.