Luzerne County Approves Rail Sale and Reviews Data Center Zoning
Luzerne County officials approved a $10 million rail line sale to Reading and Northern Railroad and scheduled a vote on data center zoning amendments.
The Luzerne County Planning Commission will meet on October 8, 2026, to discuss a proposed zoning ordinance amendment for data centers. The amendment would impose stricter conditions and require special exception approval from the county Zoning Hearing Board for 19 municipalities that rely on county zoning. While the commission originally recommended the amendment in May, the county law office requested further review and alterations before the final vote.
In a separate development, the Redevelopment Authority of Luzerne County approved the sale of a county rail line to Reading and Northern Railroad. The approved $10 million package consists of $7 million in cash and $3 million in rehabilitation services. This agreement follows a decision by the Luzerne County Council to veto a previous $8.2 million bid from R.J. Corman Railroad Co.
Additionally, county officials are currently reviewing two offers for a commercial property located at 54 W. Union St. in Wilkes-Barre, which is listed for $373,000.
