MANCHESTER – A collective sigh of relief could be heard among a standing room only crowd when the Township Council introduced an ordinance removing the only zone where data centers could be built.
As Council President Michele Zolezi would say more than once during the meeting regarding data centers, “not in Manchester Township.”
Residents and supporters of the ban came out to a protest held outside town hall just before the executive meeting at 5 p.m. They held signs and chanted in opposition to data centers.
Township officials met for an executive session before the meeting to discuss various topics, one of which was the ordinance removing data centers from an area of town.
This was needed because a little while ago a developer that already had approval for a warehouse was considering making a data center. The Council passed Ordinance 2025-27 in August 2025 allowing data centers at that property owned by the Stavola Corporation off South Hope Chapel Road.
Environmentalists started coming to Manchester council meetings to urge the council to repeal the ordinance or create some kind of ban.
This marked the second packed meeting this month. The meeting earlier in August was also standing room only, and residents were angry at the governing body for allowing data centers in the first place. The latest meeting had officials remove the data center use from the redevelopment plan, and any other area in the township.
The new ordinance, introduced this month, would repeal Ordinance #2025-27.
Ordinance 26-48 states exactly, “that data centers are not permitted within the Township of Manchester.” The Township Engineer has been directed to revise the redevelopment plan to remove data centers from the redevelopment area. The Stavola property was named an area in need of redevelopment in 2022. This means that the property was unused or underutilized and the governing body could have more say in what is built there.
Resident and mayoral candidate Mariah Prokop was present during the meeting and was also in full opposition to data centers.
Numerous residents came up to the microphone expressing their gratitude toward the ban. Only one commentor, Vito Verga, expressed that he felt the ban was a bad idea. The council president had to intervene because people started booing and talking over Verga, who remarked “I think you made a mistake. This crowd is frightening.”
He advocated for the governing body to control and regulate data center development promoting the idea that “you have them by the short hairs and you can tell them what you want. You could tell them to include water recycling, lower your electric bills. You have a golden opportunity here.”
The rest of the audience didn’t agree with his view on the matter.
Another speaker, costumed as the legendary Jersey Devil, was asked to give his address like all speakers do at meetings. He responded Leeds Point, which is the pinelands community where the allegedly mythical creature first appeared within the Garden State.
“I think you should consider using these parcels in consideration for data centers development for preservation under the Ocean County Lands Trust. I want to thank the council. Protect the Pine Barrens,” said the Jersey Devil, also known as Jason Howell from the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.
Township Business Administrator Carl Block repeated some of his remarks from the earlier August meeting that there were no official plans presented to the municipality for any data center development. The developer was only considering it.
The next step in the process is the second reading and public hearing on the ordinance which will take place on September 14. Residents will have the opportunity to comment before the Council votes on final adoption. The time and location of the public hearing will be announced by the office of Township Clerk Teri Giercyk and posted on the township website in accordance with New Jersey’s Open Public Meetings Act.
While not able to be present for the last two council meetings due to due to prior commitments, Mayor Joseph Hankins issued a statement. “Tonight, the Council took an important step toward listening to the concerns our residents have raised. Repealing this provision removes data centers from our redevelopment plan entirely, and reflects our commitment to ensuring that future development in Manchester Township aligns with the character, resources, and priorities of our community.”
“I want to thank the Council for their thoughtful consideration and swift action on this issue. Their willingness to listen and respond to the community speaks to their dedication to serving the residents of Manchester Township. I also want to thank the residents who have shown up to meetings, written letters, and made their voices heard throughout this process. Local government works best when it responds to the people it serves, and this ordinance is a direct result of that engagement,” the mayor added.
Earlier that day the mayor had joined members of the township administration, Ocean County Commissioner (and former Manchester mayor) Robert Arace and U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, who represents Manchester as part of New Jersey’s 4th District in the House of Representatives.
Smith issued a statement saying, “AI data centers pose critical environmental risks and impose undue stresses on local resources – including water and electricity – which place significant financial burdens on ratepayers and residents. The reasonable concerns of local residents must no longer be steamrolled by tech companies seeking profit over Americans’ quality of life – not on my watch.”
At the council meeting officials also introduced Ordinance 26-47 entitled “Land Use and Development” so as to amend section 245-74.1 entitled “Mixed Use Development” authorizing the sale of lots of property on the Municipal tax map to Joseph and Devora Berger at1325 Third Avenue, $145,000
The council approved on second reading Ordinance 26-45 that amended township code entitled “Electronic File Submission Standards.”
