Dorrance Township holds hearing on data center validity challenge

Dorrance Township hosted a contentious zoning hearing where residents and officials considered a challenge from Brewster Land Company regarding the permissibility of a proposed data center. Brewster Land Company owns a 155-acre parcel at South Main and Yeager Roads, currently zoned B-2 business highway district, and is challenging the township's zoning ordinance, which was written in 2007 and amended in 2025. The company argues that the ordinance unlawfully excludes data centers by failing to provide a clear path for their development, effectively blocking such projects by limiting them to already occupied industrial districts. Erik Hetzel, an independent planning consultant, testified on behalf of Brewster, highlighting that key data center components like backup generators and cooling systems are not defined in the current ordinance. An expert civil engineer for Brewster added that data centers are typically light industrial operations requiring substantial infrastructure. Approximately 100 residents attended the hearing at the Dorrance Township fire hall. Many expressed skepticism, with one resident questioning whether Brewster had demonstrated any benefits for the township. Another resident, Dan Austin, pointed out that the ordinance was written nearly 20 years ago when data centers were not a known entity, making claims of exclusion seem unfounded. This hearing is the first step in a two-part process. The board must first determine if the zoning ordinance unlawfully excluded data centers. If they rule in favor of Brewster, a subsequent decision would address site-specific relief for six data center buildings. If the board denies the claim, Brewster could appeal to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. No decision was made at the Monday night hearing, and the zoning hearing board is scheduled to reconvene on May 6th at 6:30 p.m.