Attendees fill the room during a public hearing regarding the development of a data center in Sugarloaf on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Attendees read through the agenda during a public hearing regarding the development of a data center in Sugarloaf on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Sugarloaf special attorney Mike Mariotti speaks during a public hearing regarding the development of a data center in Sugarloaf on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Development plans on display during a public hearing regarding the development of a data center in Sugarloaf on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Lisa Logan of Sugarloaf speaks during a public hearing regarding the development of a data center in Sugarloaf on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
LBT Investmrnt Group LLC attorney Julie Burkart gestures toward a development plan during a public hearing regarding the development of a data center in Sugarloaf on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
LBT Investmrnt Group LLC attorney Julie Burkart speaks during a public hearing regarding the development of a data center in Sugarloaf on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Attendees read through the agenda during a public hearing regarding the development of a data center in Sugarloaf on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Attendees fill the room during a public hearing regarding the development of a data center in Sugarloaf on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
SUGARLOAF TWP. — Residents voiced their concerns at a tense three-hour meeting about a proposed curative amendment regarding data centers at the Sugarloaf Twp. Fire Hall Tuesday night.
Nearly two dozen locals spoke articulating their concerns, questions and overall dissatisfaction with the proposed industrial developments that could be headed their way.
The township and LBT Investment Group LLC of Chicago have been negotiating about regulations since the company proposed building a data center this summer with six buildings on 185 acres off Tomhicken Road.
Since the township’s zoning ordinance does not make provisions for data centers, LBT’s attorney proposed a curative amendment for data centers, which the township supervisors denied. LBT then appealed to Luzerne County Court, but while the case is pending, the company and the township have been negotiating about what to put in the amendment.
LBT attorney Julie Wagner Burkart was on hand to answer questions and show conceptual renderings of the proposed buildings.
Burkhart said this project would connect to an already existing 230 kV PPL power line to receive its power, not a new line PPL is trying to build through the area.
“We have nothing to do with the 500 kV lines; they are coming irrespective of this project,” she said.
Jeff Butela said he lives on Tomhicken Road directly across from where the buildings will stand and is very concerned that the buildings are currently only required to be set back from homes 200 feet and is requesting it be at least 1,000 feet, which is the required distance from cemeteries and schools.
“This building will be plainly visible to my front door, my daughter’s room, my sons’ bedrooms, the line on that road is 60 yards from my house,” Butela said.
Many residents feel the township is rushing the process and leaving the community in the dark when it comes to being transparent and giving them time to read over the ordinance presented at the meeting.
Township attorney Michael Crotty said the ordinance had just been finalized that day.
Many were struggling to find any way that the township and its residents of the township could benefit from the data centers.
“How does a data center benefit human beings?” asked Doreen Cherenyock.
Crotty said due to Pennsylvania zoning, they can’t write an ordinance saying they will only allow things that benefit humankind.
“We’re required to allow for and address every type of use in our zoning ordinances; that’s what the standard is. It might be something that people don’t like, it’s better to regulate it and control it and shape it how you want it,” responded Crotty.
Sugarloaf Twp. residents have mobilized against a high-voltage power line that PPL Electric Utilities wants to build to supply a data center that NorthPoint Development is proposing.
The NorthPoint data center would be even larger than LBT’s, with 19 buildings on approximately 2,850 acre,s also off Tomhicken Road, but in Hazle Twp., where supervisors voted not to approve land development plans. NorthPoint is appealing that decision.
Andy Sanko believes that any data center that is to be built should be self-sufficient and not reliant on outside energy sources.
Area resident Linda Yurish had questions about the environmental impacts, such as how frequently the water the data center uses will be disposed of.
The ordinance also includes the option for the data center to use solar panels to defer some of the energy strains.
“I think what’s really frustrating is everyone wants a say in what’s going on,” commented Yurish. “We have these meetings all the time and our questions don’t get answered because it’s not that type of meeting, or there’s not that person here to answer it. And it just keeps going on to the next step but we don’t get our questions answered. Then, all of a sudden, we’re sitting on 15 data centers and we’re like, ‘How the hell did this happen?’”
A meeting to vote on the ordinance amendment has not been announced.