Andover Township faces lawsuit after banning data center

Andover Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, is embroiled in a significant dispute over a proposed data center at 248 Stickles Pond Road. Initially, the 812-acre parcel, owned by National Land Developers LLC of Media, Pa., was designated an "area in need of redevelopment" in 2021, and a data center proposal seemed to be moving towards approval.

However, intense public opposition arose as the data center plan became known, driven by concerns over the substantial water and electricity consumption, potential air pollution, and broader unease about AI's influence. Despite this, the Township Committee introduced an ordinance on May 7 to update development standards for data centers on the site. Just five days later, the committee abruptly rescinded this ordinance, implementing a ban on data centers instead, a move Mayor Tim Walsh later confirmed the township would defend.

In response, National Land Developers has filed a lawsuit against Andover Township, seeking to overturn the data center ban. The controversy has also sparked a political row, with Zoe Heath, chair of the Sussex County Democratic Committee, condemning data centers and accusing New Jersey Republicans, including the Sussex GOP and County Commissioners, of aggressively lobbying for such projects. Sussex County Republican chair Joseph LaBarbera refuted these claims, demanding an apology from Heath and calling her statements incorrect and potentially slanderous. The outcome of the court case and the ongoing political sparring remains uncertain.