Tobyhanna Twp. Public Hearing draws crowd as residents challenge zoning ordinance

Tobyhanna Township's Zoning Hearing Board continued its public hearing at the Kalahari Resort on Thursday night, attracting a significant crowd concerned about a proposed data center overlay district. The central issue is Ordinance No. 5-80, which aims to create this overlay, potentially allowing a data center in a rural residential area. Residents are formally challenging the ordinance, arguing it constitutes illegal spot zoning. Property owner Mark Lippy testified, expressing concerns about the visual and auditory impact of a data center located about a mile from his home, which he fears would disrupt his night sky and quiet environment. Another resident, Raymond Latham, a retiree who moved to the area for its tranquility, echoed these sentiments, highlighting worries about noise from generators and increased traffic on Route 115. Matthew McCue, representing Pennsylvania Glacial Till LLC, the company poised to benefit from the ordinance, questioned the residents' assessments, particularly regarding construction traffic. Residents also raised alarms about the potential 100-foot height of a data center, with Latham conducting a drone test to demonstrate its visibility. The validity challenge against the zoning ordinance remains ongoing, as residents continue to voice strong opposition to the potential development.