Veterans banner program enters its first phase

Mantua Township, New Jersey, is taking a proactive stance against data center development within its borders, as announced by the township committee. At an April 13 meeting, Ordinance 9-2026 was introduced, which aims to ban data center facilities by prohibiting them as a zoning use across all zoning districts in the township. The committee stated its firm opposition, noting that data centers are not constitutionally protected uses and can therefore be prohibited via zoning. The proposed ordinance has been referred to the Land Use Board for a Master Plan Consistency review. A second reading is scheduled for Monday, May 11, at 6 p.m., at which time residents will have the opportunity to offer public comment on the matter. This move is intended to prevent the "data center debacle" that has occurred in other communities, according to the township committee.