Luzerne County Council plans to vote at Tuesday’s meeting on a 10-year property tax break for a development plan to build a data center on 472 acres by the west side of Interstate 81 near the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Twp.
Kansas City-based NorthPoint Development plans to construct 15 buildings and ancillary buildings between late 2026 and 2029. Project Hazelnut would create about 900 construction jobs and another 900 permanent jobs once the complex is fully operational.
The tax break under the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) program would be on the added assessed value of new development on “deteriorated areas.” The company would pay 10% of the added value for the first seven years, 20% in the eighth year, 30% in the ninth year and 40% in the tenth year.
The company estimates it would pay $14.6 million in county taxes over 20 years. The company would also pay nearly $1.2 million “upon full campus development” by paying $2,500 per acre of each development phase, with 50% of the payment at issuance of building permit and 50% upon certificate of occupancy.
The primary entrance to the planned development will be North Park Drive through the Humboldt North Industrial Park.
