Data center plan moves forward in Old Bridge Officials debate benefits, concerns of Crossroads proposal BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer Plans for a corporate campus consisting of data storage centers will be presented to the Old Bridge Planning Board now that the Township Council adopted a resolution to allow it on the Crossroads tract. "This is opportunity knocking," Mayor Jim Philliips said of the project. The council voted 7-2 Monday in favor of allowing the project to be considered for 275 acres of the township-owned Crossroads redevelopment tract at Routes 9 and 18. Though no date has been set for Deep Run Corporate Campus to bring its application before the Planning Board, the earliest it could be heard is likely sometime in June, according to Phillips. The mayor has been a vocal proponent of the project, which he said will bring tax revenue and jobs into the town without increasing traffic or placing burdens on the school system or municipal services. He also said the proposed centers could bring municipal sewer and water service to residents in the area who have not had the public utilities in the past. "Who would not want to at least listen to a plan that has all these things in it? I can't imagine why anyone would have voted against that," Phillips said. He went on to say themunicipal utilities would be brought to parts of Wards 5 and 6, where Councilman Richard Greene and Councilwoman Lucille Panos preside. The two Republicans voted against the measure, citing various issues they have with the project. Panos said one issue she had was that although there was talk of the township entering into a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement, as the builder requested for the project, Phillips said at the meeting that such an agreement would not necessarily take place. "I find it troublesome that this administration is not forthcoming with information, and when it is forthcoming, it changes day to day," Panos said. "It's not consistent." A PILOT agreement consists of a municipality fixing a tax rate for a given period of time for a corporation. Taxes gleaned from the agreement go solely to the town, and not to the Board of Education, another point of contention for Panos, she said. "Everybody should get a fair share of the taxes," Panos said. "I want the full boat. I want every bit of tax relief we can get from this piece of land." Phillips said in the past that a PILOT would have to be approved by the council before moving forward. Deep Run Corporate Campus would consist of four 350,000-square-foot, twostory data processing centers. Despite the size and number of the buildings, the complex would occupy a minimal area of the site - about 25 acres - leaving the remainder as open space. Each building would house about 75 employees, according to plans previously discussed. Phillips said there are additional reasons the project would provide a good source of tax revenue. The buildings would require a large amount of electricity and cooling because of the nature of their use, he said. They would also be expensive to construct, increasing their value further, Phillips said. The data processing centers would store information for various corporations throughout the country. The developer informed officials in the past that it has interested parties, but wants a level of commitment from the town that would allow it to begin actively marketing the business to companies. Panos also took issue with the exclusivity of the project's use. "I don't think there is any foresight in that," Panos said. "I think it might be obsolete in five to 10 years, and then we're stuck with these buildings." According to Panos, the land should be preserved as open space, at least until the right project for the site is located. Greene, who could not be immediately reached for comment, has spoken out on numerous occasions about his wish to maintain the tract as open space. "I'm not going to let anybody play in our backyard before I know what they're doing," Panos said. In 1997, Old Bridge acquired the Crossroads property for the purpose of economic development. The Township Council adopted a redevelopment plan for the land allowing a mix of uses, with the only type of housing allowed being agerestricted, so that it would not bring more students into the school system. Aside from the 300 acres the corporate campus would cover if approved, other plans are in the works for portions of the tract. A Middlesex County long-term-care facility would take up 15 acres, and 25 acres would be dedicated to a medical arts building and a 110-room hotel.