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Council pledges to oppose nearby data‑center expansion after residents raise concerns
Summary
Residents reported plans for a second data‑center building on the old Verizon property in neighboring Orangetown, N.Y.; councilors said the proposed 40‑megawatt expansion and associated substation would be too near Waters Edge homes and agreed to draft resolutions and contact conservation groups and legislators to support residents.
Residents who attended a recent Orangetown hearing reported that a data‑center developer is seeking to build a second 40‑megawatt facility on the former Verizon property near the Waters Edge neighborhood, with a proposed substation and rooftop cooling equipment sited roughly 200 feet from some homes. Council members said they are preparing resolutions opposing the application and will contact regional conservation groups and state and federal legislators to express concern about noise, buffer reductions and watershed impacts.
"It's 40 megawatts, which is enough power to power between 750 and 1,000 homes," the acting mayor said in describing the project and its scale. Councilors noted that DCA‑style land‑use reviews in New York limit Old Tappan's formal jurisdiction but said they would support residents by writing resolutions, working with Bergen County land‑conservation organizations and contacting the regional congressman and state legislators.
Councilors also discussed the broader trend of data centers seeking dedicated power sources and the regional planning implications of siting large, energy‑intensive facilities near residential neighborhoods. The council tasked staff to prepare a draft resolution and coordinate outreach to Orangetown officials and state representatives.
