BALWIERCZAK OPPOSES CONSTRUCTION OF DATA CENTERS IN NORTH ARLINGTON.
Pronti’s Redevelopment Plan allows for such usage on Porete Avenue!
NORTH ARLINGTON – Democratic mayoral hopeful John Balwierczak, a lifelong resident and graduate of North Arlington High School, will oppose any measure to construct controversial data centers within the boundaries of the borough.
North Arlington has data-center use explicitly permitted in its Porete Avenue redevelopment plan, but thankfully there is no public record that a specific, active data-center construction application has been filed in the borough.
The key location is the Bethlehem Steel redevelopment site in the Meadowlands.
North Arlington’s redevelopment plan specifically lists a “Data Center” as a principal permitted use in the Bethlehem Steel Site district.
The plan also permits associated infrastructure such as cooling towers, fuel-oil tanks, and emergency generators.
The Bethlehem Steel portion has fairly substantial development parameters:
- Minimum lot: 4 acres
- Maximum lot coverage: 60%
- Maximum building height: 60 feet
- Minimum building: 40,000 square feet
- Data centers: expressly permitted
- Emergency generators: permitted as accessory uses
- Cooling towers: permitted as accessory uses
North Arlington’s redevelopment framework already contemplates data centers as a potential use.
According to sources, in late 2025, early 2026, the North Arlington Planning Board considered an 112-acre study area, involving 30 lots, for possible designation as a condemnation area in need of redevelopment. The borough’s notice specifically says that such a designation could give the municipality eminent-domain authority over properties in the designated area.
Eminent domain seizure is a legal process used by the government to seize private property for public use without the owner’s consent. This power is grounded in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which requires two strict conditions: the taking must be for a valid public purpose, and the owner must receive fair payment.
To date, there is not an identified application for the construction of a data center before the Planning Board.
There have been numerous industrial/warehouse redevelopment proposals in the Porete area.
North Arlington currently permits data centers in the part of the Bethlehem Steel redevelopment area, and the area is undergoing further redevelopment planning, but no application or proposal is being considered at this time.
These data centers are quite controversial and seem to have little support of residents and taxpayers.
“There are several legitimate, locally relevant arguments, to oppose such projects particularly given North Arlington’s extremely limited land mass and its proximity to dense residential neighborhoods,” offered Balwierczak.
Balwierczak pointed to the “enormous consumption of electricity” as a primary concern and impact on residents.
Modern AI, data-center facilities can require tens or even hundreds of megawatts of electricity, and that raises questions about PSE&G transmission capacity, new substations, utility infrastructure considerations, and who would pay for such upgrades, and will residents bear any portion of the costs.
Most importantly, would the data center ultimately bear any portion of the cost and whether the facility receives preferential electricity rates or tax incentives for approval.
Balwierczak saw little upside for taxpayers and property owners.
“There are way too many unanswered questions regarding this relatively new technology. Will Backup generators and air pollution concerns be addressed? A large facility could involve numerous diesel or gas generators, and the number and size could be problematic to say nothing of the number, size, fuel type and hours of testing and operation. We would need extensive studies on emergency generation as well as air quality impacts. None of this seems worth the potential health risk,” said the candidate.
“In a heavily industrialized area like Porete Avenue, noise will also be an issue and how would a data center impact existing businesses? Unlike a warehouse, a data center operates continuously and the components to operate 24/7 are a real red flag to me.”
” I would insist on an independent 24-hour noise study, including nighttime measurements regarding water consumption, the gallons per day, and wastewater discharge. In the end, is there a true and viable tax benefit for NA? I don’t believe so.”
North Arlington would also need to determine whether its volunteer fire department has the equipment, staffing and training necessary to respond to battery fires, transformer fires, and potential fuel-storage incidents, and would a potential developer pay for any specialized equipment or training required because of such a facility.
“I don’t want to put our personnel and volunteers at risk on the hope and prayer of a few dollars. I’m not convinced such a proposal makes any financial sense for North Arlington.”
“We have a little empty space and open parcels. We need to make sensible decisions. I see too little upside and will not put our community at risk, especially our first responders,” said the candidate.
“Before we ever consider a data center, residents deserve to know exactly how much electricity and water it will entail, what it will emit, how many jobs it could create, and what it will cost taxpayers, and whether the borough is getting a better deal than it could get from another use of the property.”
Balwierczak was blunt.
“Safety first.”
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Have a question or concern? Contact the candidate at (201) 655-8497 or via e-mail at [email protected]
Keeping North Arlington small, safe and suburban.
Balwierczak for Mayor, Dennis Papile & Jim Sever for Borough Council.