Archbald postpones data center hearing after notice error; 100-plus still show up

A highly anticipated second conditional use hearing for the proposed Archbald One LLC data center campus in Archbald, Pennsylvania, was canceled minutes before it was set to begin. Despite the cancellation, over 100 residents gathered at Valley View High School, highlighting significant community concern regarding the project. Borough officials stated the postponement was due to a failure to properly advertise the hearing in The Scranton Times. The proposal outlines up to 18 two-story data center buildings, each nearly 90 feet tall, spanning approximately 400 acres between Business Route 6 and 9, and German Road near Stayback Park. This is one of six proposed data center developments in Archbald, totaling over 50 buildings. Residents expressed frustration over the last-minute cancellation and alarm over the scale and location of the development, citing concerns about environmental impact on a recovering coal mining area and the lack of a community-first mindset. Despite the setback, grassroots opposition continues to grow, with residents vowing to remain vigilant. As of the report, no rescheduled date for the hearing has been announced.