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Council reviews Industrial Way rezoning recommendations; planners rule out housing, pilots and data centers
Summary
Eatontown officials reviewed Avakian's proposed zoning changes for Industrial Way, clarifying that residential uses and pilot projects are excluded and that AI data centers are not permitted due to infrastructure and environmental concerns. Public commenters sought clarifications for walk-in medical uses and brewery language.
Eatontown Mayor Anthony Talerico and planning advisers reviewed a consultant's recommendations to update zoning on Industrial Way during a June 10 workshop, focusing on permitted uses and public impacts. Consultant Christine Bell of Avakian told council that the draft ordinance will explicitly exclude housing and pilot projects: "no pilots are possible and no housing is proposed." The council requested further precision in the ordinance language before introduction.
Council members probed several categories of land use. Councilmember Meir Araman asked that motels be removed from the permitted list; Bell and Mayor Talerico agreed that a motel could be omitted if the council felt it would pose a detriment. Araman also asked why AI data centers were excluded; Bell replied they are discouraged because "they use massive amounts of electricity and water and also increase the temperature of the immediate area. They are detrimental to the surrounding environment." The draft also prohibits fleet parking to preserve customer parking and explicitly excludes residential uses.
Public commenters raised narrow, use-specific questions. Kevin Gonzalez asked whether the exclusion of "walk-in facilities" would bar chiropractic services. Mayor Talerico said the intent is to prevent urgent care walk-ins and that the ordinance will be reworded to permit physical therapy and chiropractic while excluding urgent-care clinics. Dee Slatteri and Roy Isen, members of the Economic Development Advisory Committee, said stakeholders and existing businesses were consulted and urged the ordinance language be inclusive enough to implement suggested amenities such as breweries.
The mayor said Attorney Bayer will prepare an ordinance reflecting the recommendations and clarifications; the council expects a draft for review and potential introduction at a subsequent meeting, allowing time for property-owner notice and committee review.
