Nutley, New Jersey Development News

Nutley Commissioners Address Community Data Center Concerns Amidst Planning Process

The Board of Commissioners and planning experts engaged in a detailed discussion regarding the potential development of a data center on the former ON3 campus, specifically the Kingsland property. Residents expressed significant concerns about environmental impacts, noise, water and power consumption, traffic, and the overall safety and quality of life in the community. The board emphasized that no application has been filed, and the inclusion of data centers as a permitted use in the redevelopment plan, stemming from past litigation, does not guarantee approval. Planning experts and board members explained the rigorous site plan application process, which involves review by the construction office, planning board, and hired specialists to assess detrimental impacts. They clarified that the Planning Board, not the Board of Commissioners, has the final say on site plan approval based on impact assessments. The discussion also covered the historical environmental remediation of the site by Hoffman La Roche, ongoing monitoring, and the potential differences in impact between various types of data centers. The need for transparency and community engagement through town halls was frequently raised by residents.