Plainsboro Township
Neutral Data Center Policies
Plainsboro Township allows computer centers in the OB-1 zone, offering data centers a potential place to locate, subject to ordinary zoning limits. The cited rules add no data-center-specific requirements.
current law · Township of PlainsboroThis zoning article expressly permits computer centers in the Township’s OB-1 Office Business Zone, making it the only located Plainsboro provision that specifically appears capable of covering data-center-type facilities.Plainsboro Township Code, Article VIIA: OB-1 Office Business Zone Regulations
What this means
The zoning rules expressly allow computer centers in the OB-1 zone, giving data centers a potential place to locate. Ordinary zone limits still apply, and the cited 2020 ordinance does not add data-center-specific rules, so the overall benefit is modest.
People behind it
- Ed Yates
Moved to introduce Ordinance No. 20-01 and have a public hearing held.
- David Bander
Seconded the motion to introduce Ordinance No. 20-01 and schedule the public hearing.
- Township Committee of the Township of Plainsboro
Legislative body that ordained and enacted Ordinance No. 20-01 amending Chapter 101, Zoning.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements14
Data centers are identified as permitted computer-center uses only in the OB-1 Office Business Zone; uses outside the zone are restricted to the uses authorized for their applicable zoning district.
An OB-1 development site must contain at least five acres.
Side yards must total at least 80 feet, with neither side yard less than 30 feet wide.
A minimum 100-foot front-yard setback is required. No more than 25 parking spaces may be located in that setback, and truck parking or outdoor truck-loading facilities are prohibited there.
A rear yard of at least 50 feet is required.
If a lot borders or lies within 50 feet of a residence or PMUD Zone, the required side or rear yard along that boundary must be increased by 50 feet.
On streets or roads designated on the Zoning Map, lots must provide at least 500 feet of width or frontage.
Buildings or enclosed structures may cover no more than 25% of the total lot area.
Buildings are generally limited to 2.5 stories or 35 feet in height. Any portion exceeding 35 feet must be set back from the lot line by at least twice the structure's total height, while also meeting the other required setbacks.
The principal building must contain at least 10,000 square feet of floor area.
Adequate employee parking must be provided on the property unless qualifying shared parking is used. Shared parking must be within 800 feet of participating establishments and at least 100 feet from roads with a 100-foot structure setback.
A parking facility may have no more than two street entrances or exits unless the Planning Board approves an increase, capped at six.
Parking lots and loading areas must be at least 50 feet from a residential-zone boundary, unless the distance is reduced to at least 25 feet with a 15-foot-wide planted screening strip.
Total improvement coverage, including buildings and paved surfaces such as parking, driveways, access ways, walkways, patios, and plazas, may not exceed 50% of the lot.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions11
Computer centers are expressly permitted uses in the OB-1 Office Business Zone.
The OB-1 Zone permits general corporate, administrative, and professional offices, which may provide an additional zoning category for data-center-related office operations.
Necessary public utilities and services are permitted in the OB-1 Zone, including electricity, gas, water, sanitary sewer, telephone communications, cable television, and internet access facilities.
The OB-1 Zone allows a principal structure with a minimum floor area of 10,000 square feet, supporting larger facilities rather than imposing a small-scale building limit.
The OB-1 Zone allows up to 50% maximum improvement coverage, including buildings and paved surfaces such as parking, driveways, access ways, and service areas.
Within a PMUD planned unit development, office, research, and industrial uses permitted in the I-100 Zone, as well as uses permitted in the OB-1 Zone, are allowed; this can encompass data centers qualifying under those use categories.
PMUD developments have no prescribed minimum lot area, width, or frontage, minimum building setback, maximum lot coverage, or front, side, or rear yard requirements, although the site plan must still satisfy public-health, safety, and general-welfare standards.
In a PMUD, buildings other than residential buildings may generally be up to 60 feet high, subject to the stated exceptions and applicable site-plan standards.
For PMUD areas west of U.S. Route 1, there is no nonresidential floor-area limitation, except for properties within an integrated mixed-use neighborhood development, which are subject to separate caps.
For a PMUD, the Planning Board may approve a variation from the PMUD Use Location Map if good cause is shown and the variation will not substantially impair the zone's purposes, infrastructure planning, or public health, safety, and welfare.
PMUD development standards require adequate systems for electricity and other utilities, water, fire protection, sewage, storm drainage, solid-waste disposal, and interior roads, providing a framework for supporting infrastructure.
Sources
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