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Council advances first reading of ordinance to prohibit data centers across Old Bridge
Summary
On first reading the council approved an ordinance (FR3) that would add a data‑center definition and make data centers a prohibited use in all Old Bridge zoning districts; a public hearing is set for July 21, 2026. Residents urged tightening language to prevent potential mixed-use loopholes.
The Old Bridge Township Council advanced an ordinance on first reading June 23 that would amend the municipal land-use code to add a definition for data centers and designate them as a prohibited use in all township zoning districts. The council set a public hearing on the ordinance for July 21, 2026.
Why it matters: the ordinance is intended to prevent proposals to build large server farms or AI-processing facilities that residents and council members said could strain local utilities and produce nighttime noise. Supporters of the measure said prohibiting data centers across zoning districts will reinforce existing zoning and close an avenue developers might use to site energy‑intensive facilities in the township.
Public input and recommended changes: several residents praised the council’s move and urged tightening the ordinance’s wording. One speaker suggested removing the word "primarily" from the definition to prevent developers from calling a project "mixed-use" and thereby arguing a data center is only incidental. Mark Amato (resident/advocate) asked the township attorney to clarify that the prohibition apply to principal, accessory, or incidental uses so future legal challenges would be less likely.
Legal and planning context: the township’s land-development ordinance does not currently list data centers as a permitted use in most zones; but two older redevelopment plans include data centers in limited locations. The council and attorney noted those redevelopment-plan provisions operate separately from the municipal zoning code; amending redevelopment plans would be necessary to change uses in those specific parcels. The attorney also noted that municipal authority is limited and that state-level policy remains the stronger lever for broad regulation of data-center siting.
Next steps: the ordinance will return for public hearing and final vote July 21. The township attorney said he will review suggested language changes raised by residents and councilors and circulate any recommended edits prior to the hearing.
