Residents voiced concerns at a May 13 council meeting about potential loopholes in two ordinances that ban data centers in Monroe Township.
The measures – effective the day of the meeting – mean developers cannot build a data center in the community. Concerns stemmed from a center as a proposed use in the Hexa redevelopment plan on Black Horse Pike property covering 1.6 million square feet.
The possible Hexa data center became an issue in the beginning of the year as residents voiced worries about its environmental impact, loud noises and energy and water uses that could exceed what the township can handle. Even with the ban in place, there are concerns that Hexa could sue the township and get its data center built anyway.
A special meeting of the planning board on May 12 was attended by Hexa representatives, along with many residents. Hexa’s application was denied at that session because it was deemed incomplete by the board. But despite reassurances, many residents felt the township was less than truthful about the issue because a council member was seen hugging a Hexa representative after the meeting.
“I think we’re all upset because what you’re saying and what you do are two totally different things,” said resident Chris Stockman. “What we see is not what we hear. Now this guy (Hexa representative) sits here, cool as a cucumber here last night in the planning board meeting, and didn’t flinch an eye. Because he knows something that we all don’t know.”
Solicitor Sandra Graise explained that while the township can’t prevent a lawsuit, it is prepared to protect Monroe from such litigation.
“What we can do is that we can protect ourselves,” she noted, “which is what this council and what this township has been working to do via our ordinances, via our studies, via our additional conversations in order to mitigate any potential (harm) should there be a lawsuit.”
