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Lebanon Township Committee adopts ordinance classifying data centers as non‑permitted use
Summary
Lebanon Township on July 8 adopted Ordinance 10‑2026 to define data centers and classify them as a non‑permitted use in all zoning districts; supporters said the move protects Highlands preservation, groundwater and rural character, while the fire chief asked that emergency‑services impacts be explicitly considered.
Lebanon Township’s governing body on July 8 adopted Ordinance 10‑2026, which adds a formal definition for “data centers” to the township zoning code and designates those facilities as a non‑permitted use in every zoning district.
Committee member Kohler, who presented the ordinance as a proactive measure, told the committee the rule is intended to “protect the township’s rural character and environmental resources” and to preserve drinking‑water supplies and Highlands Preservation Area goals. Kohler said the ordinance defines data centers to include traditional data centers, AI‑processing facilities, cloud‑computing facilities, cryptocurrency‑mining operations and related infrastructure, and classifies such uses as non‑permitted so applications would be subject to Board of Adjustment review rather than automatic planning‑board review.
“The purpose of the ordinance is it addresses potential impacts of large and small scale data centers on the township,” Kohler said. She outlined concerns about large water demands for cooling, impacts to groundwater recharge and aquifers, habitat loss from impervious coverage, and the potential need for major electrical infrastructure such as high‑voltage substations and backup generators.
Warren Gabriel, Lebanon Township’s fire chief, spoke during the public input period and urged the committee to explicitly include emergency‑services considerations in any follow‑up study. “If we do set one up, can we put a section in for emergency services, fire suppression, and all that for our guys and girls?” Gabriel said, calling out the special firefighting and suppression challenges posed by lithium‑battery systems and complex electrical equipment.
Kohler and others agreed that the ordinance is an initial step to “apply the brakes” on incoming proposals and that the township will study detailed regulations and educate boards and commissions on technical aspects. The planning board had earlier determined the ordinance is not inconsistent with the township master plan.
The committee moved to adopt Ordinance 10‑2026; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote. (Adoption was recorded by roll call during the July 8 meeting.)
What happens next: the ordinance establishes a non‑permitted classification that will direct future data‑center proposals to the Board of Adjustment for more rigorous review; committee members said they will pursue additional study and coordination with emergency services, the zoning officer and planning‑board counsel to develop detailed review criteria and operational safeguards.
Ordinance in context: committee members repeatedly cited the Highlands Preservation Area rules that apply to most of the township and said they wanted local controls that align with the Highlands regional master plan while preserving the municipality’s groundwater and open‑space protections.
The adoption marks the township’s early attempt to address an emerging land‑use issue; committee members said they may return with amendments after further research and input from staff and first responders.
