Data Centers To Be Addressed At Summit Common Council Meeting

SUMMIT, N.J. — Talk about artificial intelligence data centers is back on the table in Summit, as city officials prepare to take up the issue again amid ongoing concerns about how major technology facilities could fit into the community’s future.

The discussion comes after earlier debate over whether Summit should take steps to limit or prohibit data center-style development, particularly as officials look ahead to what could happen with large redevelopments like the former Bristol-Myers Squibb campus on Upper Morris Avenue.

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That 88-acre site has already sparked concern among some local leaders, who say similar corporate campuses elsewhere have been sold and later converted into large-scale data center projects.

“The pattern is straightforward: pharmaceutical R and D campus no longer needed by its original tenant, sold to a developer, then to a data center,” Councilman Jamel Boyer said during a previous discussion.

Some officials have raised concerns about the potential impact of such facilities, pointing to their size and the type of infrastructure they require. Others, however, have urged caution, saying any rules should be clearly defined before the city moves forward.

“I don’t want to see data centers here in Summit, but I want to make sure we get this right,” Councilwoman Michelle Kalmanson said at a prior meeting. “I want to make sure we let the city staff do their job.”

Councilman Dan Crisafulli also previously noted the importance of clearly defining what qualifies as a data center before making any zoning changes.

“We need to understand, how do you define a data center,” Crisafulli said, adding that the city must avoid unintentionally affecting existing or permitted uses.

The issue has also sparked broader concern about infrastructure demands and how large-scale facilities could change the character of redevelopment sites in town.

Council President Claire Toth said earlier discussions that more time would allow officials to refine their approach before moving forward with any formal rules.

The topic now returns to the Common Council as officials continue weighing how Summit should approach emerging technology-related development and what guardrails, if any, should be put in place.

For background on the earlier discussion, you can read our previous coverage