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Bridgeport council adopts ordinance adding zoning rules for data centers
Summary
The Borough of Bridgeport adopted Ordinance 20 26 05 on July 21 to add definitions, use categories and development standards for data centers in the general industrial‑commercial district, citing regional trends and concern that warehouses alone do not address data‑center specific impacts.
Bridgeport Borough Council on July 21 adopted Ordinance 20 26 05 to create specific zoning definitions and development standards for data centers in the borough's general industrial‑commercial (GIC) district.
Borough staff and the solicitor framed the ordinance as a proactive step to distinguish data centers from ordinary warehouses. "As they develop and get more sophisticated, it's become pretty obvious to municipal officials that that is not necessarily the most apt fit," said Keith Truman, borough staff, explaining the ordinance aims to add dimensional requirements, conditional‑use rules and design standards tailored to data uses. Truman told the council the measure mirrors steps taken by nearby municipalities facing similar proposals.
Members of the public asked about on‑site power generation. Dave Conway, a resident who said he reviewed the draft, asked whether on‑site generators or gas‑fired power would be limited to emergency use. Solicitor Bello said that was the intent: "That's my understanding," he told the questioner, noting the borough engineer had confirmed the ordinance limits on‑site power for emergency use only.
Council admitted three exhibits for the hearing — a proof of advertisement, the amendment text and a Montgomery County Planning Commission letter with recommendations. No council member reported an active proposal to build a data center in Bridgeport at this time.
After public questions and discussion, the council voted by voice to adopt the ordinance. The adoption follows staff testimony that the existing zoning treatment (grouping small data facilities with warehouses) did not adequately address data centers' specific operational or infrastructure needs.
What happens next: The new rules apply to the GIC‑zoned area described in the ordinance and will guide how future data center proposals are reviewed, including conditional‑use requirements and limits on certain ancillary activities such as nonemergency power generation. The council did not identify any pending data‑center applications during the meeting.
