Bear Creek Township residents push back against industrial zoning expansion
Residents of Bear Creek Township, Pennsylvania, are opposing a proposed expansion of the industrial zone, expressing concerns about the impact of large-scale industrial development, including potential data centers. Township supervisors have indicated they will not consider the initial proposed zoning map (Map 1), while other maps and an ordinance with data center restrictions are still under discussion. The proposed ordinance would require conditional-use approval for data centers and set limits on building size, noise, water use, and setbacks.
Residents of Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, are actively opposing a proposed expansion of the township's industrial zone, which could facilitate large-scale developments like data centers. At a public hearing, residents, organized as the "Bear Creek Protectors," voiced concerns about potential impacts on homes and forested areas, with one resident, Dave Poole, expressing a desire to protect the landscape for future generations.
The township is considering expanding its industrial zone from 66 to over 500 acres along the Route 115 and Pennsylvania Turnpike corridor. Supervisors have clarified that they will not be considering Ordinance 1 or Map 1 as currently proposed. However, other zoning maps are scheduled for discussion later in September, with a vote on Map 1 (though not the currently proposed version) set for September 3.
Simultaneously, the township is developing a new ordinance to regulate data centers, which would mandate conditional-use approval and limit buildings to 40,000 square feet with a maximum of two per campus. This proposal also includes restrictions on noise, vibration, water use, stormwater management, emergency response, landscaping, and requires setbacks of at least 500 feet from sensitive areas and 200 feet from residential districts. Township officials noted that current industrial zoning might be deemed exclusionary by developers, potentially leading to legal challenges. Officials stated they are not aware of any active data center proposals at this time.