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Motion to bar data centers in Sayreville fails in tie after public outcry and council split
Summary
A council motion to draft an ordinance prohibiting data centers in all borough zones—including redevelopment areas—failed on a tie vote after council debate and multiple public comments about noise, heat, electricity demand and local tax trade-offs.
The Sayreville Borough Council considered a proposal May 11 to draft a zoning ordinance that would prohibit data centers as a permitted use in every borough zone, including redevelopment districts. After extended debate among council members and testimony from residents, the motion produced a tie and failed.
A council member moved to draft the ordinance; council members and staff disagreed over whether the item should be referred for study by the Environmental and Redevelopment commissions first. Proponents of study said the commissions should analyze environmental, infrastructure and tax implications; proponents of an immediate ban cited concerns about noise, heat, increased electrical demand and long-term local impacts.
Resident Jazelle Shioone, who identified herself from One Ridge, said she had worked near data centers and urged the council to reject them. "Put your head next to it and sleep right next to it all night, every day, 24 hours a day... The heat coming off it. Literally the noise," she told the council.
Council discussion included both technical and fiscal arguments: some members emphasized potential tax revenue and the need to evaluate the 400-acre industrial property’s highest-and-best use, while others warned of infrastructure strain and environmental downsides. Several council members said the Environmental Commission and redevelopment planners were already reviewing the site and that the council should not pre-judge uses before those studies finish.
A roll-call vote on the motion to draft an ordinance to prohibit data centers ended in a tie and the motion failed; the mayor sent the matter back to the commissions for review. Council members urged staff to “track it” and report findings back to the governing body before any zoning ordinance is drafted.
