Maplewood committee asks attorney to draft ordinance to ban data centers and detention facilities

Mayor Victor DeLuca asked the Maplewood Township Committee on July 21 to ask the municipal attorney to draft an ordinance that would ban data centers and detention facilities within township borders.

DeLuca said several municipalities have taken similar measures and cited concerns about the electricity demands of large data centers. He referenced a PJM market result that, he said, will add significant costs to households and businesses, arguing that a local ban would declare the township’s position and prevent those uses from moving in unchallenged.

The municipal attorney urged caution and recommended review in the township’s code committee before a formal vote, noting that "our zoning ordinance provides in general that uses that are not expressly permitted are prohibited" and that such an ordinance might largely be a clarification. He also warned that federal detention facilities can raise separate legal issues because some federal siting actions are not subject to local zoning approval.

Committee members agreed to ask the attorney to draft the language and to send it first to code committee for detailed review. The mayor said he favored putting a clear prohibition on the books and noted the township could defend its position if federal authorities chose to challenge it.

No formal ordinance vote was taken at the July 21 meeting; the matter was set up as a direction for staff and counsel, with code committee review recommended before broader consideration by the full committee.