Bridgewater Township
Pro-Data Center Policies
Bridgewater Township allows a data center on the rear portion of the specified property, subject to sound, buffering, and review requirements; this is not unrestricted approval.
current law · Bridgewater TownshipWould establish new requirements for data centers and hyperscale data centers under the Township’s land-use regulations, affecting developers and property owners seeking those uses.Bridgewater Township Ordinance 26-15 (2026)
People behind it
- Councilman Andrew Bucko
Proposed the data center ordinance, which was introduced on first reading.
- Council President Joan Geiger
Seconded the motion proposing the data center ordinance.
- Grace Njuguna, Township Clerk
Administered the ordinance's required posting, public availability, advertising, and referral to the Planning Board.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1
The introduced ordinance would add new land-use requirements under Chapter 126 for data centers and hyperscale data centers.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1
The redevelopment plan for 1200 Route 22, adopted as Ordinance 25-05, permits data-center use on the property, subject to the plan’s land-use requirements. The minutes state that a referenced concept plan does not comply with those requirements and therefore cannot be approved as presented.
Sources
current law · Bridgewater TownshipCannot determine what the regulation does because the provided material only shows that the board-packet PDFs could not be accessed.Bridgewater Township Resolution Instituting a Temporary Moratorium on Approval of Data Centers (2026)
current law · Bridgewater TownshipAdopts the Greymark Office Tract Redevelopment Plan for 1200 Route 22, establishing the governing framework for the property and adding definitions for data centers and age-restricted multifamily dwellings; the ordinance was adopted on April 24, 2025, and became effective on May 14, 2025.Bridgewater Township Ordinance 25-05 (2025)
What this means
The plan expressly allows a data center on the rear portion of this property, creating a path for development there (“Data center”). The project must meet sound, buffering, and review requirements, so this is a moderate, site-specific benefit rather than an unrestricted incentive (“acoustic impact study”).
People behind it
- Councilman Allen Kurdyla
Moved to propose Ordinance #25-05 adopting the redevelopment plan.
- Councilman Timothy Ring
Seconded the motion proposing Ordinance #25-05.
- Township Council of the Township of Bridgewater
Introduced and adopted the redevelopment plan ordinance.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements19
The ordinance defines a data center as an off-site or remote accessory facility whose stored information and services are accessed only through telecommunications or internet utilities, limiting the type and function of the use. data center
Under the redevelopment plan, a data center is permitted only in the rear portion of the property; the front portion is limited to medical and general offices. Front portion: Medical and general offices
The plan limits the property's floor area ratio to 40 percent, and the existing office building consumes part of that development capacity. floor area ratio (FAR) of 40%
A data-center proposal must provide three single-family homes along Woodside Lane. Three single-family homes to be built along Woodside Lane
The redevelopment must include a cul-de-sac large enough for emergency and service vehicles. cul-de-sac sufficient for emergency and service vehicles
Vehicular access to Adamsville Road is prohibited, and the council stated that the project would also have no access from Woodside Lane. No vehicular access permitted to Adamsville Road
The plan requires conservation easements along the Cuckles Brook stream corridor. Conservation easements along the Cuckles Brook stream corridor
The project must provide buffers protecting adjacent residential areas, including a 50-foot buffer and a six-foot masonry wall near residential properties. Buffering requirements to protect adjacent residential areas
The plan limits data-center building height to up to 50 feet; proposals exceeding the plan's mandatory parameters require a plan amendment. proposed building height
Data-center equipment must use acoustic screening, vibration isolation, acoustic panels, and acoustically insulated ductwork and piping. External equipment, such as HVAC units, must include acoustic screening
An acoustic-impact study is required for residential property lines within 200 feet, and any identified post-construction noise impacts require additional mitigation; the project must also comply with the township noise ordinance, including a 50 dBA daytime limit at the nearest residential property line. acoustic impact study
Diesel fuel storage and fuel tankers on the site are prohibited because fuel storage is not an expressly permitted use under the applicable regulations. storage of diesel fuel or the presence of fuel tankers on-site is prohibited
The project must satisfy the latest New Jersey stormwater-management standards and flood-control requirements. Conformance with the latest NJ stormwater management standards and flood control requirements
Impact studies are required for potential negative effects, with post-construction mitigation if impacts are identified. Impact studies for potential negative effects with post-construction mitigation
A communications-impact study is required for wireless and cellular service. Communications impact study for wireless/cellular service
Before a project can proceed to the Planning Board, the Township Council must certify its consistency with the redevelopment plan and a redeveloper agreement must be established. Redeveloper agreement must be established before proceeding to the Planning Board
Development still requires Planning Board site-plan review, and major site-plan review requires a full public hearing. Full public hearing required as part of major site plan review
Mandatory redevelopment-plan requirements cannot be changed without Township Council action; changes to permitted uses require a Council-approved plan amendment, while only minor deviations may be granted by the Planning Board. Changes to permitted uses require plan amendment by the Township Council
The ordinance does not take effect immediately upon passage; it must be published and, in all events, take effect no sooner than 20 days after final passage and required mayoral approval. in no event, less than 20 days after its final passage
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions8
The redevelopment plan expressly permits a data center as a use in the rear portion of the 1200 Route 22 site.
The Township Code definition of “Data Center” recognizes data-storage, data-processing, computing, telecommunications, and internet-service equipment, together with typical supporting facilities such as transformers, substations, environmental controls, fire suppression, generators, redundant power supplies, and security facilities.
The plan allows buildings in the redevelopment area to reach up to 50 feet in height, with additional allowances for rooftop structures, subject to the plan’s requirements.
The plan permits a floor-area ratio of up to 40% for the entire site. Because the existing office building occupies part of that allocation, the amount available for new construction is reduced accordingly.
A project that complies with the redevelopment plan may proceed through Planning Board site-plan review without additional Township Council approval; only changes to mandatory requirements or permitted uses require a Council plan amendment.
The plan allows the Planning Board to grant minor deviations comparable to C variances, while preserving the approved data-center use and other mandatory plan standards unless the Council formally amends the plan.
The plan establishes a defined approval pathway consisting of Township Council consistency certification, a redeveloper agreement, and subsequent Planning Board review, rather than requiring the data center to obtain a new use authorization outside the redevelopment plan.
The plan provides a development layout with a 70-foot setback from the property line, buffering, landscaping, and a six-foot masonry wall near residential areas, allowing a data center of the permitted height to be located on the rear portion of the site subject to those conditions.
Sources
Data provided by Regbase · Cookie preferences · Report missing data
