Mar 12, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
A data center project has been proposed for Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The proposed “Smithfield Gateway” development was discussed by the Smithfield Township Planning Commission in mid-February and would be located south of Music Center Drive and north of Smithfield Lane. Plans include two data center buildings, each spanning 250,000 sq ft (23,225 sqm).
Applicant documents show that the plan is linked to Legend Properties, a commercial real estate firm operating primarily in the Philadelphia Metropolitan area, but details about a potential end-user were not disclosed.
The project has not yet been approved by the township, and a petition opposing the data center has already gathered over 800 signatures.
Titled ‘Stop the massive data center in East Stroudsburg, PA’, the petition says that “while technology and data centers are crucial for modern communication, the scale of this project threatens to alter our community's landscape irreparably, impacting the environment, economy, and our daily lives.”
It goes on to mention concerns about a potential data center’s impact on the environment, noise and light pollution, as well as expressing scepticism about its economic benefits.
“We call upon the local government, city planners, and residents to protect East Stroudsburg from this unsustainable and invasive development,” reads the petition.
