Tiger Woods is partnering with Mike Trout in the development and providing the design team for Trout National – The Reserve
VINELAND, N.J. — Temporary property tax relief agreements for a new data center and a golf course are approved and awaiting a mayoral signature.
Vineland City Council officials voted 5-0 at their meeting Jan. 27 to adopt an ordinance that authorizes separate payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) agreements with DataOne Vineland LLC and with TN Reserve LLC. Council members did not offer comments with their votes.
DataOne finished construction of and opened a data center last year. City planners approved the property for that use in 2024.
TN Reserve is an exclusive membership golf course owned by baseball star Mike Trout and local businessman and developer John Ruga. Its official opening is to be this spring.
The adoption vote followed a public hearing that was anti-climactic compared to some recent council meetings where residents talked about the data center. DataOne representatives helda town hall earlier this month at Landis Theater to address criticisms.
Vineland resident Zac Landicini — a member of the Sustain SJ organization, whose members oppose the data center — questioned the company’s need for what he characterized as special treatment.
“If DataOne is already paying millions in taxes, and their CEO is so confident in their operational concept, and proud of taking nothing from the taxpayers, why do they need a PILOT agreement?” Landicini said.
Landicini also called for revising local zoning regulations to account for the emergence of data centers.
Council President Paul Spinelli said that a meeting was held that morning with Mayor Anthony Fanucci to discuss the city master plan and zoning map.
“It will be discussed in that,” Spinelli said. “And I’m sure there is a public piece for that, as well, when it happens. So, you will be notified.”
On Wednesday, Spinelli said city officials are looking at an early start on their next scheduled update to their planning documents.
“It’s really not due til 2028,” he said.
Currently, he added, Vineland relies on state guidance to define data centers and the appropriate zoning for them.
Payments-in-lieu-of-tax, or PILOTS, are allowed under New Jersey law as a method to encourage development. A five-year period is typical.
Recipients don’t pay property taxes for the first full year after their project has been completed and put into operation. But regular property taxes continue to be paid on the “unimproved” value of the land itself.
In year two, the municipality would collect 20 percent of whatever the regular tax payment would be. Each year the amount is to increase by 20 percent until 100 percent is reached.
The DataOne application for a PILOT states that the property, without development, has a tax valuation of $5,618,100. Its states that the new construction, or “improvements,” has a tax valuation of $14,018,000, bringing the total tax valuation to $19,636,200.
The TN Reserve application states that the property, without development, has a tax valuation of $1,142,600. It states that the improvements have a tax valuation of $5,731,200, bringing the total tax valuation amount to $8,883,000.
Tiger Woods is partnering with Trout in the development and providing the design team. The golf superstar has made a few visits to the under-construction course recently to check on its progress.