ARCHBALD, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — A hearing Wednesday at Valley View High School focused on a proposal to build a 400acre data center complex in Archbald.
The project is being pursued by Archbald 1, LLC, a contractor based in Dover, Delaware.
The session was the first of multiple conditionaluse hearings scheduled for the proposal.
Developers brought several witnesses to testify in support of the project.
Under conditionaluse rules, public comment cannot begin until all witnesses have testified.
Only two witnesses were able to complete their testimony, answer questions from borough officials, and be crossexamined from authorized residents before the council adjourned the meeting.
Among those who questioned the witnesses was Tamara MisewiczHealey, a resident and cofounder of the Stop Archbald Data Centers Group.
She said she attended the hearing to seek clearer information about the proposal and to represent concerns she has heard from others in the community.
“Residents are scared and sad. They’re just trying to hold on to hope that they can get this stopped and have it responsibly zoned away from town, away from people, and away from our children,” said MisewiczHealey.
MisewiczHealey said she is still seeking clear information about how much water and electricity the facility would require.
She also wants clarity on the number of diesel generators planned for the site, the amount of fuel that would be stored there, and how the facility would be managed during an emergency.
She believes the location is troubling because it sits close to neighborhoods, small businesses, schools, and athletic fields.
She said the number of generators proposed makes the placement particularly concerning for those nearby areas.
MisewiczHealey said the project is one of several data center proposals along the same corridor and wants officials to evaluate their combined impact on the community.
She and her husband run a Facebook group aimed at sharing information, livestreaming meetings, and keeping residents connected as the hearings continue.
Kelsey Pazanski Wargo, who lives less than a mile from the proposed site, said she left the hearing still looking for clear information about the project and its potential impact.
She said the atmosphere in the room felt tense as residents tried to understand what the project could mean for their neighborhood.
“But I do think that tonight left a lot to be desired in terms of us getting real answers to questions and having real data to examine exactly what effect this project will have on our town,” said Wargo.
She worries about the potential effects of noise, emissions, and vibrations on nearby homes and public spaces.
She also worries about how those impacts could affect children and people in the area with underlying health conditions.
The site’s proximity to neighborhoods, a park, and a school adds to those concerns.
Wargo said she hopes future hearings provide clearer data about the 18building proposal.
The hearing is scheduled to resume March 19 at 5 p.m.