Warehouses Throughout County
Warehouses are popping up across Salem County, we've all seen their progress. Almost every Township and Municipality has been impacted - our vast open fields are now strewn with giant cement structures awaiting business and promised jobs to arrive.
​
Want to better understand your township’s economic and development plans? Curious about how adopted zoning laws could permanently impact—positively or negatively—your town’s culture, quality of life, and economy? Cheap land, weak governance, and low resident involvement can lead to predatory development practices, such as converting hundreds of acres into unneeded warehouses or introducing risky industries near rural neighborhoods.
How does this affect Salem County?
The influx of warehouses in Salem County, with over 5.1 million square feet built since 2020 and 7.4 million more proposed, threatens its rural character, farmland, and natural resources. Increased truck traffic from these facilities, generating an estimated 380,000 daily trips statewide, could raise air pollution levels, particularly nitrogen dioxide, exacerbating health issues like asthma, especially in vulnerable communities. Environmental concerns include stormwater runoff and loss of wetlands, which could disrupt the county’s ecosystems and scenic byways, clashing with its tourism and agricultural identity. Legislative efforts, like a proposed $1 million pilot program to study warehouse impacts, aim to address these concerns, but rural areas face challenges balancing growth with preservation.
How does this affect me?
Although these warehouses have potential to bring jobs to the region, it is unclear if/when this will happen. Many warehouses to date sit vacant, years after construction. Their construction has impacted residential neighborhoods, our roads and infrastructure, and our property values.
What can I do?
​Despite our busy lives, getting informed and requesting your township’s master plan from the zoning board is a crucial first step in protecting your community from industrialization and blight. Land use laws must be updated before an industry submits an application for a specific lot, as once the application is submitted, existing laws are often grandfathered in for that company. We must proactively understand our land use laws and advocate for responsible development. The attached document is an informative introduction to land use laws and why they are important to you!
