Cherry Hill joins a growing list of South Jersey municipalities to formally ban large-scale data centers
Cherry Hill Township Council unanimously passed an ordinance formally banning large-scale data centers as a non-permitted land use. This proactive measure aligns with the township's master plan, which aims to preserve its aesthetic, natural resources, and manage land, water, and energy consumption. Cherry Hill joins several other South Jersey municipalities that have enacted similar bans, while one developer is suing Monroe Township over its ban.
Cherry Hill Township Council has unanimously passed an ordinance that formally bans the development of large-scale data centers within the township, making data centers a non-permitted land use. Mayor David Fleisher stated that the proactive measure was taken to "eliminate a problem before it became one" as technology evolves.
Christopher Dochney, a certified city planner who assisted with the ordinance, explained that the ban aligns with Cherry Hill's master plan to maintain its character as a garden suburb, preserve natural resources, and ensure economic development that prioritizes job creation and retention. Dochney highlighted that data centers consume significant land, water, and energy, and often result in large, visually unappealing buildings, which contradict the township's goals. Future data center development would require a difficult land-use variance from the township's zoning board.
Cherry Hill is the latest in a series of South Jersey municipalities to pass similar bans, including Mansfield and Chesterfield Townships in Burlington County, and Medford Township. Millville in Cumberland County also enacted a ban after promotions for a large "Millville Energy & Data Center Campus" circulated. The article notes a massive data center in Vineland is nearing completion. In Gloucester County, a real estate developer has filed a $300 million lawsuit against Monroe Township after its ban on data centers led to the denial of plans for a 1 million-square-foot facility. Mayor Fleisher expressed confidence that Cherry Hill's ban would withstand potential legal challenges due to the thorough and methodical process undertaken.