Residents urge Sussex County to press pause on data centers; commissioners say municipalities hold primary authority

Multiple residents urged the Sussex County Board of County Commissioners on May 13 to act on proposals for a countywide moratorium on data-center construction, citing environmental and community concerns.

Ken Collins of Andover Township told commissioners that the community rallied to block a proposed data center in his township and urged the board to "adopt a moratorium on data center construction throughout the county without further delay," saying a six-month review period would allow communities to develop common guidelines or prohibitions.

Kathy Bridal of Hampton Township amplified those concerns, pointing to potential environmental impacts including water and electrical demand, noise and broader community effects. "These data centers are just being thrown up. There's nothing being discussed about them or the effects of them on the environment," Bridal said.

Board members and county counsel responded that the authority to enact binding moratoria on land use typically resides with municipalities. At a later point in the meeting a county legal representative noted that a countywide moratorium would not be binding on townships and suggested discussion about coordination with municipal officials instead. "Am I wrong not thinking that we as a county have no authority to put a moratorium on township? The is solely a function of the municipalities," asked a board attendee during council remarks, and the response indicated municipalities hold that land-use authority.

Commissioners heard the public comments but took no immediate regulatory action; the meeting record shows an instruction to follow up on legal and coordination options rather than a vote on a county moratorium.

Members of the public also raised related land-use concerns about a possible data center in Sparta and asked for consistent county-level guidance to ensure municipalities have time to review impacts and set local rules.

What happens next: The transcript documents a legal and procedural constraint articulated in public meeting discussion: municipalities retain primary land-use authority. The board did not adopt a county moratorium at the meeting; residents requested further discussion and potential coordination with municipal governments.