Allenwood, Pa. — Some of the most visible faces in a fight against a proposed data center complex at Great Stream Commons covertly changed sides. The reversal has rattled the opposition movement as it regroups ahead of a rescheduled zoning hearing.Â
At a July 20 hearing before Gregg Township supervisors, real estate attorneys stood before the board to read letters on behalf of seven households with property near PNK Group's proposed development. Five, the attorneys said, are no longer opposing the project — including Dilshan Gamaralalage and Matthew and Rebecca DeWire, who were recently among the opposition's most prominent voices.
Dilshan Gamaralalage with his family on their front porch after the May 4 township meeting.
Laura Ulrich
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQdi`\dica_jee_\`_fhQmv2>2C2=2=286 D2:5 :? |2J E92E 9:D 72>:=J 925 >@G65 7C@> }6H *@C< E@ vC688 %@H?D9:A D66<:?8 2 BF:6E6C =:76[ 2?5 E92E E96 AC@A@D65 52E2 46?E6C — =6DD E92? a__ J2C5D 7C@> 9:D 9@>6 — E9C62E6?65 E@ Q56DEC@J 6G6CJE9:?8]Q w6 925 96=A65 @C82?:K6 2 u2463@@< 8C@FA[ H@C<65 E@ 3C:?8 qF4<?6== &?:G6CD:EJ AC@76DD@CD :?E@ E96 @AA@D:E:@?VD 42D6[ 2?5 :?G@<65 E96 DE@CJ @7 s2G:5 2?5 v@=:2E9 H96? 56D4C:3:?8 E96 7:89E 29625]k^Am
Matthew DeWire, a teacher at Williamsport Area High School and resident of Gregg Township for 19 years, at the May 4 meeting.
Laura Ulrich
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQfi`\ficadj`_g`\`d_dQm|2EE96H s6(:C6[ DA@<6D>2? 7@C E96 8C@FA r@?46C?65 r:E:K6?D @7 vC688 %@H?D9:A[ 925 4C:E:4:K65 !}z vC@FAVD >2:?E6?2?46 @7 E96 AC@A6CEJ 2?5 H2C?65 :? |2J C6A@CE:?8 E92E Q72>:=:6D H:== H2E49 E96:C :?G6DE>6?ED 6C@56]Q w:D H:76[ #636442 s6(:C6[ 2 >6492?:42= 6?8:?66C[ 925 8:G6? DFA6CG:D@CD 2 56E2:=65 E649?:42= 6IA=2?2E:@? @7 9@H =@H\7C6BF6?4J :?5FDEC:2= ?@:D6 EC2G6=D E9C@F89 H2==D 2?5 D9CF3D 2?5 3F:=5D FA :?D:56 9@>6D 2E ?:89E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQhi`\hidhej`d_f\a`_aQmpE E96 yF=J a_ 962C:?8[ 2? 2EE@C?6J DA62<:?8 7@C E96 s6(:C6D 2?5 E9C66 @E96C 9@FD69@=5D — s@?2=5 2?5 r96CJ= !2=>[ z:>36C=J !2=>[ 2?5 y24< 2?5 $92C@? u:D96C — D2:5 E96J 925 D:8?65 =6EE6CD @7 Q?@?\@AA@D:E:@?]Q w6 5C6H 2 5:DE:?4E:@? 36EH66? E92E DE2EFD 2?5 DFAA@CE[ E6==:?8 DFA6CG:D@CD E92E 9:D 4=:6?ED Q>2J 92G6 925 @AA@D:E:@?Q 2E D@>6 A@:?E 3FE[ E9C@F89 Q2D<:?8 BF6DE:@?D[ 2EE6?5:?8 >66E:?8D[ 5@:?8 C6D62C49[Q ?@ =@?86C @AA@D6 E96 AC@;64E] w6 D2:5 EH@ 255:E:@?2= 9@FD69@=5D 96 C6AC6D6?ED — E96 s6H:C6D 2?5 y2>6D 2?5 %2J=@C zC2FD — D:8?65 =6EE6CD DE2E:?8 24E:G6 DFAA@CE 7@C E96 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am
Gamaralalage's garage eclipsing the data center's proposed home.
Laura Ulrich
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQ``i`\``i`hgja`_c\ab_`Qmp D64@?5 2EE@C?6J 4@?7:C>65 ?@?\@AA@D:E:@? =6EE6CD @? 3692=7 @7 v2>2C2=2=286 2?5 $62? 2?5 %:?2 $?J56C @7 u:CDE $EC66E 2?5 DF3>:EE65 @C:8:?2=D @7 3@E9 =6EE6CD 7@C E96 3@2C5VD C64@C5]k^Am
An aerial view of the site of PNK's proposed data center in Gregg Township, Union County.
Matthew DeWire
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQ`bi`\`bicabjab_b\afadQm}6:E96C 2EE@C?6J 5:D4=@D65 E96 E6C>D @7 2?J 28C66>6?ED C624965 H:E9 E96 9@FD69@=5D] #62= 6DE2E6 2EE@C?6JD C6AC6D6?E:?8 =2?5@H?6CD :? ?68@E:2E:@?D H:E9 56G6=@A6CD :D DE2?52C5 AC24E:46 :? AC@A6CEJ EC2?D24E:@?D[ 2?5 E96 962C:?8 C64@C5 5@6D ?@E 6DE23=:D9 E92E 2?J A2J>6?E 492?865 92?5D]k^Am
k9b 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQ`di`\`diabjafaf\afchQmkDEC@?8mr@>>F?:EJ C624E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQ`fi`\`fibadjafd`\b_fdQm%96 C6G6CD2= H2D E96 5@>:?2?E E@A:4 2E 2 yF=J b_ >66E:?8 @7 vC688 %@H?D9:A C6D:56?ED @AA@D65 E@ E96 AC@;64E[ 96=5 2E (2D9:?8E@? !C6D3JE6C:2? r9FC49 :? p==6?H@@5 2?5 962565 3J C6D:56?ED zC:DE6? $?256C[ $F>>6C v6=?6EE[ 2?5 y2C65 (6=49]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQ`fi`\`fibadjafd`\b_fdQmpEE6?566D 56D4C:365 766=:?8 Q36EC2J65Q 3J ?6:893@CD E96J 925 7@F89E 2=@?8D:56 7@C >@?E9D[ H:E9 D6G6C2= DA64F=2E:?8 E92E E96 9@FD69@=5D 925 366? 4@>A6?D2E65 7@C 5C@AA:?8 E96:C @AA@D:E:@?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQ`fi`\`fibadjafd`\b_fdQm$?256C H2D >@C6 5:C64E] Qx? >J @A:?:@? — 2?5 x H2?E E@ D2J[ :? >J @A:?:@? — E96D6 :?5:G:5F2=D H6C6 A2:5 @77 7@C E96:C D:=6?46 2?5 4@@A6C2E:@?[Q $?256C D2:5[ 255:?8 D96 36=:6G65 E96 9@FD69@=5D H6C6 E2C86E65 3642FD6 E96J 925 366? 2>@?8 E96 >@DE G@42= @AA@?6?ED @7 E96 AC@;64E] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQ`hi`\`hiehcjb_ff\bff_Qmp 5@4F>6?E 7C@> !}z vC@FA @FE=:?6D 2 7C2>6H@C< >2E49:?8 E92E DA64F=2E:@?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQ`hi`\`hiehcjb_ff\bff_Qm%96 5@4F>6?E[ =236=65 2 4@?7:56?E:2= D6EE=6>6?E AC@A@D2= ?@E 25>:DD:3=6 2D 6G:56?46 F?56C DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= CF=6D[ 56D4C:36D 2? @776C !}z vC@FA 92D >256 E@ Q5:C64E=J :>A24E65Q ?6:893@C:?8 AC@A6CEJ @H?6CDi E96 4@>A2?J H@F=5 AFC492D6 6249 A2CE:4:A2?EVD 9@>6 2E 72:C >2C<6E G2=F6 — D6E 3J 2? :?56A6?56?E 2AAC2:D2=[ H:E9 @H?6CD 23=6 E@ 4@>>:DD:@? E96:C @H? 2AAC2:D2= 2E E96:C @H? 4@DE :7 E96J 5:DAFE6 !}zVD :?:E:2= G2=F2E:@? — A=FD 2 AC6>:F> 6BF2= E@ fdT @7 E92E G2=F6[ A2:5 :? E9C66 :?DE2==>6?ED E:65 E@ A6C>:EE:?8 >:=6DE@?6D 7@C E96 AC@;64EVD :?:E:2= e_\>682H2EE A92D6 2?5 :ED 7F== ac_\>682H2EE 3F:=5\@FE]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQa`i`\a`if`ajbffa\ccgbQmx? 6I492?86[ E96 5@4F>6?E DE2E6D[ 2 A2CE:4:A2E:?8 @H?6C 28C66D E@ D:8? 2 Q{6EE6C @7 }@?\~AA@D:E:@?Q — C6BF:C65 E@ DE2E6 E92E E96 @H?6CVD @C:8:?2= 4@?46C?D H6C6 255C6DD65 E@ E96:C D2E:D724E:@? 2?5 E92E E96J ?@ =@?86C @AA@D6 E96 AC@;64E — 2?5 E@ C67C2:? 7C@> @AA@D:?8 E96 52E2 46?E6C 2E >66E:?8D[ 962C:?8D @C @?=:?6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQa`i`\a`if`ajbffa\ccgbQm%96 5@4F>6?E 5@6D ?@E :56?E:7J 3J ?2>6 2?J DA64:7:4 AC@A6CEJ @H?6C H9@ C646:G65 @C D:8?65 E96 @776C[ 2?5 :E :D ?@E <?@H? H96E96C :ED E6C>D >2E49 H92E 2?J :?5:G:5F2= 9@FD69@=5 F=E:>2E6=J 28C665 E@]Â k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQabi`\abib_fjccgd\cfh`Qm~?6 C6D:56?E C64@F?E65 2AAC@249:?8 v2>2C2=2=286 2E E96 yF=J a_ 962C:?8 367@C6 9:D ?2>6 H2D C625 :?E@ E96 C64@C5 2?5 2D<:?8 H9J EFC?@FE 2E C646?E >66E:?8D 925 5C@AA65] p44@C5:?8 E@ E92E 244@F?E[ 96 24<?@H=65865 96 H2D =:<6=J E@ D:8? @? H:E9 E96 ?@?\@AA@D:E:@? 8C@FA 367@C6 9:D ?2>6 H2D 42==65 >:?FE6D =2E6C]k^Am
k9b 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQabi`\abib_fjccgd\cfh`QmkDEC@?8mpEE@C?6J :? >F=E:A=6 C@=6Dk^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQadi`\adi`aa`jcfhb\e_`bQm%96 8C@FA 2=D@ C2:D65 C6?6H65 4@?46C?D 23@FE 2 4@?7=:4E @7 :?E6C6DE :?G@=G:?8 y] |:4926= (:=6J @7 |4r@C>:4< {2H u:C>[ (:==:2>DA@CE]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQadi`\adi`aa`jcfhb\e_`bQm(:=6J D6CG6D 2D (2D9:?8E@? %@H?D9:AVD D@=:4:E@C 2?5 H2D D6A2C2E6=J :56?E:7:65 2D 2? 2EE@C?6J 7@C !}z vC@FA 2D 62C=J 2D =2E6 |2J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQadi`\adi`aa`jcfhb\e_`bQm(:=6J :D 2=D@ D@=:4:E@C 7@C E96 (2CC:@C #F? pC62 $49@@= s:DEC:4E[ H9:49 D6CG6D DEF56?ED 24C@DDÂ Â }@CE9F>36C=2?5[ &?:@?[ 2?5 |@?E@FC 4@F?E:6D[ 2?5 H2D 5:C64E65 3J E96 5:DEC:4EVD DFA6C:?E6?56?E E@ D6?5 2 =6EE6C E@ |@?E@FC r@F?EJ 4@>>:DD:@?6CD @? E96 5:DEC:4EVD 3692=7 @3;64E:?8 E@ %2=6? t?6C8JVD AC@A@D2= E@ C6K@?6 >@C6 E92? h__ 24C6D 7C@> 28C:4F=EFC2= E@ :?5FDEC:2= FD6 7@C 2 D6A2C2E6 52E2 46?E6C AC@;64E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $E2?52C5\y@FC?2= C6A@CE:?8 @? 2 5:DEC:4E 3@2C5 >66E:?8] %96 5:DEC:4E 925 2=C625J D6?E 2 D:>:=2C =6EE6C E@ E96 |@?E@FC r@F?EJ !=2??:?8 r@>>:DD:@?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQadi`\adi`aa`jcfhb\e_`bQmxE :D ?@E 4=62C 7C@> 2G2:=23=6 C64@C5D H96E96C @C H96? (:=6JVD H@C< 7@C !}z vC@FA 3682? C6=2E:G6 E@ 9:D C@=6 C6AC6D6?E:?8 E96 D49@@= 5:DEC:4EVD @AA@D:E:@? E@ 2 5:776C6?E 52E2 46?E6C AC@;64E[ @C H96E96C (:=6J 92D 5:D4=@D65 E96 @G6C=2A E@ (2D9:?8E@? %@H?D9:A[ (2CC:@C #F?VD 3@2C5[ @C !}z vC@FA]Â k^Am
k9b 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQadi`\adi`aa`jcfhb\e_`bQmkDEC@?8m(92EVD ?6IEk^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQahi`\ahibbfje_ba\ebegQm}@ ?6H 52E6 92D 366? 7@C>2==J 2??@F?465 7@C E96 C6D4965F=65 K@?:?8 962C:?8[ @C:8:?2==J D6E 7@C yF?6 ` 2?5 AFD965 E@ yF=J a_ 7@C E6DE:>@?J C6=2E65 E@ ?@?\@AA@D:E:@? 2?5 DFAA@CE =6EE6CD] #6D:56?ED D2:5 E9:D H66< E96JVG6 366? E@=5 :?7@C>2==J E@ 6IA64E 2 962C:?8 @? E96 DF3DE2?46 @7 E96 @C5:?2?46 D@>6E:>6 :? =2E6 pF8FDE @C 62C=J $6AE6>36C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQb`i`\b`ibecjebf_\efbbQm~AA@D:E:@? @C82?:K6CD A=2? E@ 9@=5 H66<=J DEC2E68J >66E:?8D 2E E96 49FC49 @? %9FCD52JD 7C@> e E@ f A]>] E9C@F89 E96 962C:?8 52E6[ H:E9 E96 ?6IE D6DD:@? D6E 7@C pF8] e] p7E6C s6(:C6VD r@?46C?65 r:E:K6?D u2463@@< A286 H2D 232?5@?65[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]72463@@<]4@>^8C@FAD^ghehacbgbcefgc`Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2 ?6H @?6 H2D 4C62E65 :? :ED DE625k^2m 7@C C6D:56?ED DE:== D66<:?8 E@ @C82?:K6 :? @AA@D:E:@? E@ E96 52E2 46?E6C 4@>A=6I]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQb`i`\b`ibecjebf_\efbbQm%96 8C@FA :D AC6A2C:?8 ?6H E6DE:>@?J 27E6C >6>36CD D2:5 >F49 @7 E96:C A=2??65 AF3=:4 4@>>6?E H2D 255C6DD65 :?7@C>2==J[ 2?5 H:E9@FE 36:?8 6?E6C65 :?E@ E96 C64@C5[ 2E E96 yF=J a_ >66E:?8]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7@?E\4=2F56\C6DA@?D6\3@5J 3C62<\H@C5D H9:E6DA246\?@C>2=Q 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\D@FC46A@DlQbbi`\bbibhbjefbd\f`afQm%96 K@?:?8 7:89E 4@?E:?F6D 2=@?8D:56 2 D6A2C2E6[ C6=2E65 5:DAFE6 @G6C !!{ t=64EC:4 &E:=:E:6DV AC@A@D65 ab_[___\G@=E EC2?D>:DD:@? =:?6[ H9:49 72C>6CD 2?5 C6D:56?ED 92G6 2C8F65 6I:DED D@=6=J E@ D6CG6 !}z vC@FAVD 56G6=@A>6?E] %92E AC@;64E C6>2:?D F?56C C6G:6H 3J E96 !6??DJ=G2?:2 !F3=:4 &E:=:EJ r@>>:DD:@?[ H:E9 !!{ E2C86E:?8 2 AC676CC65 C@FE6 2??@F?46>6?E 2?5 ?@ 7:?2= 564:D:@? J6E >256 AF3=:4]k^Am
