Dorrance zoning board needs more time to rule on data center ordinance

The Dorrance Township zoning hearing board has postponed its decision on a "substantive validity challenge" filed by Brewster Land Company, LLC, until May 6. The company contends that the township's zoning ordinance, before an amendment in September 2025, unlawfully excluded data centers from legitimate land uses under Pennsylvania law. The board heard over five hours of testimony across two hearings, including expert witnesses for the developer who argued that data centers were not reasonably accommodated and that the industrial zones were insufficient for such development. The hearings, attended by over 100 residents, also featured public comments, mostly focusing on community impact rather than the legal challenge. If the board rules in favor of Brewster Land Company, it would then consider site-specific relief for a proposed six-building data center at South Main and Yeager Roads, a parcel currently zoned commercial (B-2), while the amended ordinance limits data centers to industrial districts. If the claim is denied, the company can appeal the decision to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.