Olyphant Borough is taking proactive steps to regulate the surge of data center interest in Lackawanna County, drawing a massive crowd to a public hearing on Tuesday night. While the borough has not yet received any formal data center applications, officials are moving to amend the local zoning ordinance to establish clear boundaries and requirements before developers arrive.
The proposed ordinance would formally define data centers and categorize them as a conditional use, effectively confining them to the CM-2 zoning district. This area is located east of the Casey Highway and includes the Triboro Industrial Park. By moving these facilities to the borough’s most remote industrial zone, officials hope to minimize the impact on residential neighborhoods while still complying with state laws that prevent municipalities from banning the industry entirely.
No final decisions were made during Tuesday's hearing. The Olyphant Borough Council is scheduled to consider the amendment for official adoption at its next meeting on April 14.
