June is a celebratory month, and our Township has had an abundance of reasons to celebrate. Flag Day at Ross Farm and the Battle of Basking Ridge were both held Saturday, June 13, commemorating our 250th Anniversary and the World Cup being held in the U.S. for the first time since 1994. Flag Day offered entertainment, activities, a fabulous array of flags, and a 100-year-old recipe contest that Nancy D’Andrea, member of the 250th Anniversary Committee, designed and curated. The Battle of Basking Ridge celebrated the two World Cup teams, Brazil and Morocco, training in our community. This event, that I co-led with Committeewoman Jennifer Asay, included a soccer village and cultural street fair followed by a Brazil vs. Morocco game watch party at Oak Street School’s playground. Thank you to all who volunteered at these events and contributed to their success.

The Township Committee held two meetings in June and passed resolutions recognizing institutions and achievements, including the 60th Anniversary of St. James School, the 250th Anniversary Committee and its contributions, Sean Griffin, Chase Lynch, and Aarya Parthiban for their outstanding personal efforts in attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. The committee also recognized 2026 FIFA World Cup Team Morocco and Team Brazil for their selection of and presence in Bernards Township during the tournament, The Ridge Drama Club on receiving top honors at the 2026 Foxy High School Play Awards, and June as Pride month and the Greater Somerset County YMCA for its programming in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

Joining us for the presentation of the Resolution to Team Morocco and a key to Bernards Township were the Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Mohamed Ait Bihi, Mr. Hamza Hnach, Vice Consul, and Mr. Alex Lalaoui, Coach with the U.S. Soccer Federation. Members of the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge (ISBR) and our Moroccan community also attended, and I am grateful to Dr. Ali Chaudry, ISBR President, for his help in bringing the esteemed guests to our meeting.

The Township Committee also approved Ordinance #2599, which amends and supplements the Code of the Township of Bernards, Chapter 21, “Land Development,” to add definitions and revise the list of permitted uses within the office districts in the Township. It also amends the list of uses which are prohibited throughout all zones of the Township.  The Planning Board reviewed the ordinance and found that the proposed prohibition within Ordinance 2599 is not inconsistent with the Township’s 2023 Master Plan as it prevents the introduction of a land use that would deviate from the development patterns envisioned by the Master Plan and that may adversely affect the Township’s established character.  The Planning Board letter also stated that the proposed prohibition of data centers throughout Bernards Township is substantially consistent with the goals, objectives, policies, and recommendations of the Bernards Township Master Plan.

One of the objectives of the Master Plan states that the density and intensity of permitted development on the limited remaining vacant lands should respect the environmental capacity and limitations of these lands.  The Planning Board emphasized that data centers have the potential to create substantial environmental impacts through high energy consumption, cooling demands, backup power generation systems, and related infrastructure requirements. Limiting development of highly energy-intensive facilities advances the Master Plan’s relevant conservation and environmental resource objectives.

Why does this Ordinance matter? I’ve mentioned in the past during Township Committee meetings that my husband’s family moved here in 1969, when there was just one traffic light—a blinking light. The first office complexes were built in the ‘70s.  Looking back, the Township has long been careful about where it places office buildings. Generally, the structures are near highways, aesthetically pleasing, and set back from community roads. Data centers, in contrast, are big industrial windowless structures and can be noisy, with constant humming and vibrations emanating from the transformers.

We also want to be mindful of environmental concerns and sewer capacity. A 200,000 sq. ft. data center could put 100,000 gallons of water into the sewer system daily—5 times the average used by an office complex. A data center that includes evaporation towers could use as much as 180,000 gallons of water per day.

Additionally, the Ordinance would potentially protect Bernards Township from lawsuits, as courts generally give substantial deference to municipal zoning decisions, especially as the ordinance is tied to the Master Plan.  I am proud that the Township Committee unanimously approved Ordinance #2599 in the spirit of best serving our residents.

Finally, I want to mention that each morning we walk our dogs, and these past few weeks we’ve seen an array of lawn signs celebrating graduations, from pre-K to college, and of course, the shining green and black balloons recognizing our Ridge High School seniors. Congratulations to all our graduates and their proud families and best wishes for their continued success.

I appreciate those who attend or livestream the Township Committee meetings. Upcoming meetings are posted on the Township Committee web page. Meetings are open to the public, and begin at 7:30pm, Town Hall, 1 Collyer Lane.

Your Voice Matters! You can contact me with township questions/ thoughts/ comments at (201)306-0178, or via email at amccarthy@bernards.org. Please note that any correspondence sent to me will be visible to the full township committee and clerk.

– Mayor Ana Duarte McCarthy