Contested

Union Township Data Center (Saadia Holdings, Sampson Street and East Harbor Road)

Union Township, Lawrence County

Saadia Holdings has filed a conditional use application for a "mini data center" near Route 422 and the Shenango River, and final plans aren't expected until early 2027.

ContestedMid-sizeTBD/UndisclosedSW

At a glance

The project by the numbers

StatusApplication Filed

Building area135,000 sq ft

First announced2026-09-21

New York developer plans a 135,000 square foot data center in Union Township, Lawrence County

The number that mattersThe building would be 225 feet wide and 600 feet long, about 135,000 square feet, on land zoned light industrial next to the Shenango River area.

Developer: Saadia Holdings (New York City), represented locally by attorney Chris Papa, with Dynamic Engineering as engineer
Tenant: No tenant or operator has been named.
Current stage: WFMJ reports Saadia has filed a conditional use application, and the zoning officer said final plans are expected after January 1, 2027. The planning commission held an informational meeting with the company on September 21, 2026. Saadia is expected to return after January 1, 2027 with final plans or another informational session, and a conditional use hearing before the supervisors hasn't been scheduled.
Decision body: Union Township Board of Supervisors (conditional use decision), after review and a recommendation by the Union Township Planning Commission
Top issues: Closeness to homes, wetlands on the site area, electricity demand and rate effects, cooling water, and the township having no data center ordinance.
Key supporters: Chris Papa, the company's local attorney, has spoken in favor of the project's community impact.

How we got here

May 2026: Columbia Borough Council in Lancaster County unanimously denies Saadia's bid for the former McGinness Airport property. July 14, 2026: a Saadia representative contacts the Athens County, Ohio planner about a separate site. September 21, 2026: informational meeting with the Union Township Planning Commission, where members raise concerns. October 1, 2026: WFMJ and the New Castle News report the proposal and the conditional use application.

Timeline

How it has unfolded

2026-05In May 2026 the council voted unanimously to deny Saadia's bid for the former McGinness Airport property (exact day not reported). CBS 21 News (local21news.com)
2026-07-14A Saadia representative emailed the Athens County, Ohio planner asking about a zoning variance and utilities for a separate site. Athens County Independent
2026-09-21The planning commission held an informational meeting on Saadia's data center and members raised concerns. New Castle News
2026-10-01WFMJ reports Saadia has submitted a conditional use application; the zoning officer said final plans are expected after January 1, 2027. WFMJ 21 News

News

Coverage of this project

2026-10-01 WFMJ 21 News'Mini data center' in the planning stages in Lawrence CountyIntroduces the 135,000 square foot proposal, the conditional use application and the steps ahead, with comments from the zoning officer and the company's attorney.
2026-10-01 New Castle NewsData center proposed for Union TownshipGives the building dimensions, zoning, engineer, Penn Power connection and job estimate, and reports the planning commission's concerns.
2026-07-23 Athens County Independent(Updated) NY company exploring Athens County data centerBackground on Saadia's separate inquiry in Athens County, Ohio and its rejected Columbia Borough bid.
2026-07-15 CBS 21 NewsColumbia Borough Council prevents data center development via new zoning ordinanceBackground: Columbia Borough denied Saadia's bid for the McGinness Airport property in May and later barred data centers there.

Sources

Columbia Borough Council prevents data center development via new zoning ordinance CBS 21 News (local21news.com) · 2026-07-15
(Updated) NY company exploring Athens County data center Athens County Independent · 2026-07-23
Data center proposed for Union Township New Castle News · 2026-10-01
'Mini data center' in the planning stages in Lawrence County WFMJ 21 News · 2026-10-01

Near U.S. Route 422 and the Shenango River, on land bordered by or off Sampson Street, Rapson Avenue and East Harbor Road in Union Township, Lawrence County. No street address or parcel number has been published.

Open in maps →

Saadia is expected to return after January 1, 2027 with final plans or a request for another informational session. A conditional use public hearing before the township supervisors would follow the planning commission's review, and no date has been set.

Official notice →

Checked November 2, 2026

Follow the money

Saadia Holdings Developer

See the connections →

Developer / operators

Saadia Holdings (New York City), represented locally by attorney Chris Papa, with Dynamic Engineering as engineer

Know your rights

In Pennsylvania, the local zoning ordinance sets the route. A conditional use is decided by the elected governing body (supervisors, commissioners or council). A special exception or variance, and an appeal of a zoning officer’s decision, go to the Zoning Hearing Board. Each is a public hearing on a record: affected neighbors can ask for party status, cross-examine witnesses, and appeal. Municipalities can also adopt data center ordinances with enforceable standards.

Know your rights →

Take action

Organized community opposition is the single most effective check on these projects in Pennsylvania. Show up to hearings, submit comment when it is taken, support legal and expert-witness costs, and press your municipality for a real ordinance. Pennsylvania municipalities cannot simply freeze applications, but a curative amendment under the Planning Code gives them a defined window to fix a defective ordinance.

How communities push back →