Salem Township Approves Data Center Overlay District Expansion

BERWICK — The data center overlay district in Salem Township has more than doubled in size, following approval from the board of supervisors at a special meeting Tuesday. The packed gathering at the Assembly of God Church in Berwick drew a capacity crowd, with many attendees wearing orange shirts to back Jack Sordoni of the 4-3 Glennbrook Group.

The group requested the boundary expansion to accommodate a $1.4 billion data center project known as “Salem 3.” Sordoni has entered into purchase agreements with nearly 200 landowners for roughly 4,466 acres of land slated for the development. During the public hearing preceding the vote, 4-3 Glennbrook presented a PowerPoint and video detailing the proposed economic benefits of the project.

A central pillar of that pitch is a $12 million community benefits package that would fund a 24/7 stabilize and transfer micro-hospital featuring a full emergency department. The developer plans to provide roughly 42.37 acres of land along Route 11 for the facility. Sordoni indicated that 4-3 has already invited a premier regional health system to evaluate a partnership on the project, addressing a critical regional need since Berwick’s emergency department closed in 2022. Sordoni, who experienced a personal medical emergency in Berwick, noted that it previously took emergency personnel 40 minutes to respond.

Beyond the hospital proposal, the developer outlined measures to tackle local environmental concerns, including a plan to inoculate and sterilize feral cats inhabiting the land to curb uncontrolled breeding and improve feline health.

Public comment leaned heavily in favor of the district overlay expansion, with most speakers emphasizing the anticipated economic gains. The township planning commission previously voted to recommend approval of both ordinances at a Sept. 24 meeting.

The planning commission initially approved the expansion on July 23, but a group of citizens subsequently sued Salem Township, alleging officials violated the Sunshine Act by locking doors and turning away attendees. Luzerne County Judge Lesa S. Gelb ruled on Aug. 25 that the commission had to hold a new meeting on the zoning amendment, which took place on Aug. 27. However, because Gelb’s written order placed a stay on data center overlay district actions at that session, the commission was forced to hold a third vote.

In addition to the Salem 3 project, the board approved a request from Moores 109 LLC to expand the district by roughly 185 acres of land previously zoned A1 and C1 for a separate data center project dubbed “Salem 4.” Vice Chairman Steven Fraind abstained from the vote because a property he owns may be involved.