Middletown Township Committee Agenda Omits Data Center Ban and West Nut Swamp Zoning Hearings
Middletown's September 21 agenda omits two hearings previously moved to November 9; the township later removed the data-center rescheduling notice.
The Middletown Township Committee’s September 21 agenda omits public hearings on a proposed townshipwide data center ban and zoning standards for a contemplated 136-home development on West Nut Swamp Road.
A township notice viewed September 15 said the data center hearing had been rescheduled to November 9. That notice and the ordinance’s original introduction notice later disappeared from the township’s public-notices page. A separate notice announces November 9 as the rescheduled West Nut Swamp hearing.
The published agenda instead schedules hearings and possible final passage for other measures, including a first-time homebuyer incentive for eligible emergency-service volunteers and updated recreation rules. Neither omitted ordinance should be considered finally adopted or abandoned based solely on its absence from the agenda.
Two rescheduled hearings are absent from the agenda
The September 21 agenda lists public hearings on Ordinance 2026-3535, the volunteer homebuyer proposal, and several other measures, including the parks ordinance. It does not list Ordinance 2026-3536, the data center proposal, or Ordinance 2026-3539, the West Nut Swamp zoning amendment. Both had originally been scheduled for public comment and possible final passage that night.1
The proposed data center ban
As Public Record NJ previously reported, Ordinance 2026-3536 would prohibit data centers in every Middletown zoning district. The Township Committee introduced the measure on September 8, and its original public notice scheduled a hearing and final consideration for September 21.
By September 15, the township had posted another notice rescheduling the hearing to November 9. That notice and the original introduction notice subsequently disappeared from the township’s public-notices page. Ordinance 2026-3536 is also absent from the September 21 agenda.2
The ordinance would take effect only after final passage, adoption and publication. The removal of the notices does not establish that the measure has been abandoned.
The West Nut Swamp zoning amendment
Ordinance 2026-3539 would revise RTH-10 zoning standards for Block 1045, Lots 2, 3 and 4, identified in the notice as 1114 West Nut Swamp Road. The ordinance states that the changes would memorialize settlement terms involving Adoni Property Group LLC, The Franklin at Middletown LLC and the township while creating an opportunity for housing affordable to low- and moderate-income households.
The proposed standards contemplate 136 homes: 109 townhouses and 27 affordable garden apartments. The affordable units would be integrated with the market-rate homes and deed-restricted as affordable for at least 30 years. The records reviewed do not establish that the development has received final site approval.3
The site is separate from the housing proposal near Circus Liquors previously covered by Public Record NJ.
West Nut Swamp hearing announced for November 9
The rescheduling notice states that the Ordinance 2026-3539 hearing will now be November 9 at 7 p.m. At the rescheduled public hearing, residents may address the Township Committee before it considers the ordinance for final passage.
Hearings that remain on the agenda
The agenda includes Ordinance 2026-3535, which would offer a $10,000 first-time homebuyer incentive to eligible Middletown fire department, first aid squad and Office of Emergency Management volunteers purchasing a primary residence in the township.
Fire and first aid volunteers would have to meet the township’s Length of Service Award Program criteria, respond to at least 15% of calls and complete at least 40 hours of meetings or training. Emergency management volunteers would have to attend at least 70% of meetings, complete four authorized training courses and provide at least 12 hours of additional service.
The payment would be secured by a forgivable second-mortgage lien for five years, subject to continued eligibility. If adopted and published, the ordinance says it would apply retroactively to January 1, 2026.4
The committee is also scheduled to hear Ordinance 2026-3540, which would update rules for township tennis and pickleball courts and establish code sections governing dog parks. The measure would replace the current uniform court hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with different hours for specified court locations.
The proposed dog park rules would require dogs to be leashed while entering and exiting and owners to remove waste immediately. They also would prohibit aggressive or unattended dogs, puppies younger than four months, food, glass containers, smoking and alcohol. Children younger than 8 would not be permitted.5
The committee is scheduled to hold public hearings before considering final passage.
What happens next
The regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 21, at 7 p.m. at One Kings Highway. Residents may comment during the hearings listed on the agenda before the committee considers those ordinances for final passage.
The West Nut Swamp hearing is announced for November 9. The township also had posted November 9 for the data center hearing, but that notice was later removed, and the proposal is not listed on the September 21 agenda.
Notes
The township’s September 21 meeting page links to its meeting-records portal. The citations below identify the agenda packet and historical notices reviewed for this article; notices described as removed may no longer be available online.
- Township of Middletown, “Regular Meeting Agenda Packet,” September 21, 2026, 1–2; Township of Middletown, “Public Notice: Ordinance 2026-3536,” September 2026, 1; Township of Middletown, “Notice of Rescheduling: Ordinance 2026-3539,” September 2026, 1.
- Township of Middletown, “Public Notice: Ordinance 2026-3536,” September 2026, 1–2; Township of Middletown, rescheduling notice for Ordinance 2026-3536, viewed September 15, 2026; Township public-notices page, subsequently reviewed September 2026.
- Township of Middletown, “Notice of Rescheduling: Ordinance 2026-3539,” September 2026, 1–5, 8.
- Township of Middletown, “Regular Meeting Agenda Packet,” September 21, 2026, 12–14.
- Township of Middletown, “Regular Meeting Agenda Packet,” September 21, 2026, 18–21.