Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Green Township Committee adopts ordinance banning data centers in all zones
Summary
On May 18, 2026, Green Township adopted Ordinance 2026-04, which defines "data center" and prohibits data centers in every zoning district; the measure passed by a 3–0 roll call vote after public comment expressed concerns about water, energy and community impacts.
Green Township’s governing body voted on May 18, 2026 to adopt Ordinance 2026-04, which adds a definition of “data center” to the municipal code and lists data centers as a prohibited use in all zoning districts. The ordinance passed on a roll call vote with Ayes: Bader Qarmout, Deputy Mayor Michael Rose and Mayor Virginia “Ginnie” Raffay; DeYoung and Phillips were absent.
The ordinance text frames the change as a response to concerns about large-scale data-center operations, citing potential impacts on water and power supplies and on the township’s rural character. It defines a data center to include facilities that house servers, network equipment, transformers, substations, generators, cooling and related infrastructure and accessory components. The ordinance also cites state referral and notice requirements and directs the clerk to notify the Sussex County Planning Board as required by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-15 and related statutes.
Members of the public spoke during the hearing. Elly Lessin, Casey Andrews, Austin Neary, Linda Neary and Josephine Fracasso each provided comments and concerns about data centers in Green Township; after public comment the Committee adopted the ordinance. During the later public-comment period Elly Lessin thanked the Committee for the action.
The ordinance text includes findings that cite preliminary studies and statements by members of the New Jersey State Legislature about water and energy consumption that can accompany large data centers, including references to daily water-use figures and large electricity demands. The ordinance directs standard notice and Land Use Board review steps required under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26 and 40:55D-64 before final publication; the adoption notice was published following the May 18 vote.
What happens next: the ordinance takes effect upon final publication according to the township code. The Township Clerk and Land Use Board have procedural steps to complete under the statute referenced in the ordinance text.
