In this edition of our newsletter, I would like to provide a significant update on a hot topic: data centers.
At our Jan. 8 planning board meeting, an application for a preliminary approval was presented for a warehouse/distribution center, not a data center. During that meeting, a few dozen residents expressed their concerns and indicated they are adamantly opposed to a data center ever coming to what is now known as the Hexa Redevelopment Area.
At the Jan. 28 council meeting, I requested members approve resolution R:78-2026, directing our
professionals to conduct further research regarding data centers as a permitted use in the Hexa area and addressing resident concerns from the planning board meeting.
Over several council meetings, residents from our town – as well as surrounding municipalities – expressed their opposition to any data centers in Monroe Township. Our legal team was then tasked with creating an ordinance to ban data centers altogether.
Ordinance 20-2026 would repeal the data center use from the Hexa area. Ordinance 25-2026 would ban data centers entirely from Monroe. Both measures got final approval from council at its April 22 meeting, and they have already been reviewed by the New Jersey Pinelands Commission. No further reviews are needed.
Data centers are now permanently banned in Monroe.
This was a process that lasted several months and several meetings. But our township had to ensure the process was in accordance with the ordinances. I thank those residents who attended the many meetings and expressed their concerns. The process worked.
Monroe recently welcomed several new businesses. As always, we encourage all residents to support our local merchants; they are a vital part of our community. We also hosted a groundbreaking at the new, state-of-the-art, all-inclusive park for children with autism and other physical, developmental or sensory needs, the first in Gloucester County.
Finn’s Friends Park is nearing completion and we will host its ribbon cutting in late May. The park was mostly paid for with a $750,000 Green Acres Grant to Monroe, as well as some funds from the local nonprofit Finn’s Friends.
The Williamstown firehouse construction project is also nearing completion and should be finished sometime in May. If you recall, the initial proposal was to construct a $16-million station; however, when my administration took office in January of 2023, we sent the project back out to be redesigned and re-bid, and it came in under $8 million.
The project is now saving taxpayers approximately $8 million, while also still providing the fire department with everything it needs. We look forward to the ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony in the upcoming months and will keep everyone posted on those dates.
