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Developer Eyes Data Centers Instead of 500 Residential Units for Smithfield Gateway TIF, Board Told
Summary
A developer told a board member the Smithfield Gateway project's originally planned residential build (and TIF support) may shift to two data centers; board members said zoning is a township decision and the board will hear the developer's presentation in March before taking a position on any TIF amendment.
A board member told the East Stroudsburg Area School District board that Jim Dietri of Legend Properties has notified district leaders he may seek to convert the Smithfield Gateway project from up to 500 residential units to two data centers and will ask the board for support at the March meeting.
The board member said Dietri described zoning activity in Smithfield Township that could preclude data centers and that Dietri would present details of the project and his request at a later meeting. The speaker summarized that residential development had been the stated purpose for the district's TIF assistance but that a data-center conversion would greatly increase assessed value per square foot, citing figures presented in the discussion: $132 per square foot for residential versus $1,000 per square foot for a data center.
Board members stressed that zoning and siting decisions fall to township authorities. "We are not the township. We are not the zoning authority," one board member said, noting the board's role is to consider whether to amend TIF support rather than to decide land-use rules. Several members said they wanted to hear Dietri's presentation and get more information before considering any TIF amendment.
Next steps: Dietri will be invited to present to the board in March; the board will consider whether to support any amendment to the TIF following that presentation.
