Pennacchio: If Towns Can Control Data Center Development, They Should Have a Say on Housing Too
State Senator Joe Pennacchio questions Governor Mikie Sherrill's stance on local control, noting she supports municipalities deciding on data center development but not on state housing mandates. Pennacchio advocates for consistent local decision-making, emphasizing that local governments best understand their communities' needs and resources. He argues this principle should apply equally to housing and data centers.
State Senator Joe Pennacchio, representing Morris and Passaic Counties, has publicly criticized Governor Mikie Sherrill's perceived inconsistency regarding local governmental control over development. Pennacchio highlights that Governor Sherrill supports municipalities' right to determine the appropriateness of data center construction within their communities, acknowledging that some towns are better suited for such developments than others.
However, Senator Pennacchio points out that Governor Sherrill does not extend the same discretion to local officials when it comes to meeting state-mandated high-density housing requirements. He argues for consistent application of local decision-making, stating that "local governments know their communities, infrastructure, school capacities, and available land better than any bureaucrat in Trenton."
Pennacchio asserts that state housing policies should recognize these local differences, advocating that the principle of local decision-making, which the Governor supports for data centers, should also apply to housing mandates. Municipal leaders have expressed concerns that current high-density housing mandates threaten open spaces, lead to overcrowding, and strain local resources, but these concerns have been dismissed by Trenton Democrats and Governor Sherrill, who continue to push for the "unrealistic mandates."