Hazle Twp. to write data center regulations in next 180 days
Hazle Township supervisors, following a court decision upholding their denial of the Project Hazelnut data center, approved a resolution to draft new data center zoning regulations within 180 days. This action pre-empts further legal challenges on zoning ordinance deficiencies and was met with applause from residents opposing the project.
After a court upheld Hazle Township supervisors' denial of land use approval for the proposed Project Hazelnut data center, the supervisors voted on June 8 to approve a resolution. This resolution declares the current zoning ordinance deficient regarding data centers and grants the township 180 days to draft and adopt new regulations specifically for data center development.
Luzerne County Judge Lesa Gelb had previously ruled on May 26 to uphold the supervisors' denial, noting that the developer, NP Hazleton Development 1 LLC, could have challenged the zoning ordinance on grounds of its omission of data centers. By approving the resolution to write new rules, the township aims to insulate itself from such future challenges during the drafting period. The developer still retains the option to seek special exception approval from the township's zoning board for its proposed 15 data center buildings on 1,250 acres.
The meeting saw significant public attendance, with many residents wearing "Project Hazelnot" T-shirts and applauding the supervisors' decision. Residents, including Ed Negra and Joanne Balay, questioned the process for public input on the new rules and inquired about a $30 million offer from NorthPoint Development (NP Hazleton's parent company) to offset potential electricity cost increases, which attorney Donald Karpowich stated was in line with Gov. Josh Shapiro's Responsible Infrastructure Development standards. The planning commission is expected to hold public sessions before the supervisors vote on the final zoning amendment.