South Jersey Residents Question Future Plans After Large Warehouse Project Clears Early Approval
A big development proposal in South Jersey has moved forward, but many Gloucester County residents say they have reservations about what could be constructed on old farmland.
Earlier this month, the Monroe Township Planning Board gave preliminary approval to a plan that would allow two massive warehouses to be constructed on nearly 95 acres of vacant farmland along the Black Horse Pike. The 1.6 million-square-foot buildings would have truck parking, loading docks, and interior streets. After a nearly four-hour public meeting with considerable community reactions, consent was granted.
Residents at the meeting worried that the application could expand into an artificial intelligence data center, even though it just concerns warehouse construction. Their concerns stem from a March Monroe Township Council zoning adjustment that allowed data centers and other uses in the site’s redevelopment plan.
Over 20 residents continuously opposed the idea during public comment. Many believed that preliminary clearance paves the path for major developments in the area.
No data center plan is before the board, said township officials. regulatory Board Chairman Andrew Helsel said the decision merely granted preliminary clearance and that any subsequent project, including a data center, must return to the board and meet legal and regulatory criteria. Monroe Township Mayor Greg Wolfe agreed, saying the board cannot dismiss a land use application based on public concern. He also admitted that a future plan would require a new approval process and public hearings.
The warehouses’ unnamed tenant has raised local concerns. Hexa Builders, the developer and land owner, has not stated who would occupy the buildings or what operations could occur there. Requests for comment from firm representatives were delayed.
Environmental issues dominated the meeting. Residents noted the site’s proximity to torrents, wetlands, and private wells. They warned that eliminating big farms and woodland areas could threaten barred owl and red-headed woodpecker habitats. Others warned about increased truck traffic on Route 322, air quality difficulties, and long-term water resource strain.
Some homeowners feared a “bait and switch,” with warehouses permitted first and then an AI data center with increased energy and water needs. Mayor Wolfe clarified that a previous request for more than 1.4 million gallons of water was related to a bottling company concept that is no longer being pursued.
Although the planning board gave preliminary clearance, the project is still in progress. Before construction may commence, the Pinelands Commission, New Jersey Department of Transportation, municipal utilities authority, and county soil conservation district must approve the development.
Monroe Township’s argument mirrors a nationwide concern about AI data centers’ rapid rise. Although they look like warehouses, these facilities hold powerful servers that need a lot of electricity and water. According to McKinsey & Company, US data center demand will more than treble by 2030 as artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies grow.
New Jersey has dozens of data centers, mostly in the north. Community pushback has increased as interest stretches to South Jersey. Residents of Vineland say a massive AI data center approaching completion was built without public understanding. A proposed data center on a former historic farming site in South Brunswick has sparked litigation and opposition from surrounding neighbors and environmentalists.
Monroe Township people worry about now and tomorrow. Officials say no data center application is under review, but the zoning changes and enormity of the authorized warehouses have many people worried about their neighborhood and farms.
Sources:
Monroe Township Planning Board
Monroe Township Council
New Jersey Department of Transportation
Pinelands Commission
McKinsey & Company
