Residents flood Carneys Point meeting with opposition to proposed data centers

Dozens of residents used the public comment period at the Carneys Point Township Committee meeting on May 6 to press the committee to act against proposed data centers near the township.

Caroline told the committee she had "a petition with four hundred signatures opposing the Data Centers" and handed packets to officials. Multiple speakers, including Michael Tinley of Pinewood Avenue and Larry from Vineland, raised concerns that large data centers would strain local electric, water and sewer systems, harm property values and bring public-health impacts. Larry described the local effects of an existing Vineland facility and urged council members to "Ban them!" as a preventive measure.

Several commenters said township zoning and the master plan must be updated immediately. Wayne Pelura described a recent Planning Board resignation he said stemmed from an ethical conflict tied to real-estate listings and urged transparency in land-use decisions. Bridget Longworth and others urged the committee to be proactive rather than reactive in ordinance drafting, and Amy Tighe suggested taking the issue to a public ballot.

Mayor Bomba and committee members acknowledged the letters and emails urging land-use ordinance review; the mayor referenced multiple incoming messages asking the township to strengthen rules to address potential data center development. No formal decision was made at the meeting; residents asked the committee for specific next steps including ordinance updates, planning-board review and possible referendum.