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Bernards Township adopts ordinance prohibiting large data centers in office zones
Summary
The Township Committee amended and adopted Ordinance 2599 to prohibit data centers in specified office zones, citing planning-board review and consistency with the 2023 master plan; public comment from Warren Township elected official supported a proactive local ban due to energy, water and infrastructure concerns.
Bernards Township’s Committee on June 23 voted to adopt Ordinance 2599, which amends the township’s land-development code to prohibit data centers in several office zones and adds related definitions.
Mayor Dwarte McCarthy and other committee members said the planning board reviewed the proposal and found it not inconsistent with the 2023 master plan. Committee discussion and the planning-board letter cited concerns that large data centers can have significant environmental and infrastructure impacts (including high energy and water demand and backup-power systems) that may conflict with the township’s development objectives.
During the public-hearing portion, Daniel Crosen, a member of the Warren Township Committee, addressed Bernards Township in support of the ordinance. Crosen told the committee that nearby municipalities had acted preemptively on data centers and argued state-level guidance or a moratorium should also be considered. He said his township adopted a similar measure to anticipate impacts on electricity, water, noise, and regional infrastructure.
The committee amended the ordinance to include planning-board recommendations and adopted the measure by roll call vote. The ordinance’s adoption reflects local land-use authority and the planning board’s recommendation that the proposed prohibition is substantially consistent with the township master plan.
What’s next: The ordinance takes effect as prescribed by law. Officials and citizens who raised infrastructure and environmental concerns at the meeting suggested further regional or state coordination to assess broader grid and water impacts.
Quote: "These facilities can consume enormous amounts of electricity, place significant demands on water resources, generate noise, [and] strain regional infrastructure," said Daniel Crosen during public comment.
Note: The committee’s action amends permitted uses in local office zones; the transcript records the planning-board review but no technical environmental or grid-impact study was presented at this meeting.
