New CoreSite Data Center On County Ave. Will Be 4 Stories, 446,761 Square Feet

SECAUCUS, NJ — On Thursday morning, Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli attended the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority meeting, as he said he would.

At the meeting, Gonnelli told the NJSEA the town of Secaucus now wants to limit any new data center that opens near residential parts of town to be no taller than two stories (35 feet). The town needs the NJSEA to approve this new zoning restriction.

"I'm asking you to take a look at what's proposed, sit with us and talk about it," Gonnelli asked NJSEA Commissioner Jill Hirsch.

However, this new height restriction doesn't apply to the very big new CoreSite data center that will be built at 215 County Avenue (CoreSite's second in town). That new data center will be approximately 446,761 square feet and four stories tall, per plans already approved by the Secaucus Zoning Board.

Last spring, CoreSite applied before the Zoning Board for three variances for property. In their application, which you can read here, one of their variance requests was related to demolishing the existing one-story building that's there, and building an entirely new data center on the footprint.

"The project replaces an aging one-story light-industrial structure with a modern four-story data center and accessory office space, maintaining a similar footprint while adding a PSEG-supported substation," it reads on page 3 of their application.

(The new data center will have its own electric substation. It's still unknown when construction will begin.)

At their May 11 meeting, the Secaucus Zoning Board unanimously approved CoreSite's request. 215 County Avenue is zoned for light industrial use, as per the Meadowlands Master Plan, which was created by the NJSEA,

Gonnelli said Thursday the Zoning Board — which he appointed nearly all the members to — approved CoreSite's four-story request before all the outcry in town against data centers.

He also said some people in town learned the new CoreSite data center will be four stories tall, and they are not happy about it.

Several of Secaucus' most outspoken data-center opponents, Linda Weber, Kathy McFarlande, plus others, also spoke at Thursday's meeting. The NJSEA did not answer any of their questions at the meeting and told them to email the board their specific questions.

"I want to commend him (Gonnelli) for trying to seek limits, but the word that frightens me is 'future data centers,'" said McFarlande. "Since 6.5-square-mile Secaucus is already inundated with data centers. I have to question how many future data centers are proposed for this town? When people hear Secaucus, they are going to think, 'Oh, Secaucus, all those data centers. The most data centers in New Jersey.' And that makes me really upset."

David Kraatz also spoke.

"The mayor says you guys are in charge. I've heard that Jill Hirsch said the mayor has all the authority. I don't know which to believe," said Kraatz. "You guys pass the buck back and forth."

In the Nov. 3 election, Kraatz is running as an anti-data center, write-in candidate against Secaucus Councilman James Clancy.

One woman (name not heard) who works for an environmental group stood up. She said data centers suck up too much electricity from the grid.

"All that work we did investing in green energy is basically pointless because now our energy demand has gone up," she said.

Also Thursday, Congresswoman Nellie Pou met residents in Secaucus, and one man raised concerns about Hirsch and her qualifications to make decisions on things that could potentially hurt the environment, such as data centers.

"Hirsch has a successful background as a children's lawyer but does not have qualifications in environmental protection, credentials or experience," he said.

"Those positions are filled by the governor and that every administration has the right to appoint and choose whoever it wants," Pou responded, adding that she "knows Jill Hirsch personally, regards her highly, and has worked with her."

"Do you think someone lacking credentials should be in that role?" the man pressed her.

"People will surprise you. People with no experience can outshine those that do have a background. She will do her very best," replied the Congresswoman.

Hirsch was appointed to run the NJSEA by Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

Gonnelli also said his town attorney is working on a new town law that will outlaw AI data centers from opening in Secaucus. He said that will be ready to be voted on at the next Council meeting, Tuesday night Oct. 27.

Tom Hindle contributed reporting.