BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater's massive ordinance that would ban data centers in the Township is being backed by the Bridgewater Township Planning Board.
The Board voted Tuesday to deem an omnibus ordinance, introduced by the Council at the Aug. 6 meeting, consistent with the master plan. See Related: Bridgewater Looks To Ban Data Centers, Detention Centers Under Massive Ordinance
The measure before the board was described during the meeting as an omnibus ordinance that amends Chapter 94-2 on fees, updates parts of Chapter 126 on land use, and adds a new Chapter 152 for lighting in residential areas.
Before the vote, board attorney Mark Peck explained the purpose of the hearing.
"Before a land use ordinance can be adopted, it gets referred to the planning board, who is to consider the ordinance and determine whether or not it's consistent with the master plan, and then render a report back to the council," he said.
Township Planner Katherine Sarmad told the board her review covered the comprehensive master plan adopted in late September 2025 and the reexamination report adopted in December 2025.
She said the ordinance is meant to carry out recommendations in those planning documents by updating definitions, clarifying permitted uses in some zones, refining language on limits for numbers of buildings, and addressing rebuilding rules for pre-existing nonconforming properties damaged by fire, flood or natural disaster.
She also said the ordinance adds provisions related to cooperative sober living residences and revises zoning fees in a way intended to be more favorable to residential applicants.
On residential lighting, Sarmad said, "We have currently no lighting standards related to residents, no enforceable lighting standards related to residential areas."
She said the new chapter was added "as a way to provide some enforcement."
In her overall review, Sarmad told the board, "I did find that I believe the omnibus ordinance furthers the goals and objectives of the master plan."
She added, "I don't think that it contradicts any of the master plan goals, recommendations, or specific, you know, specific recommendations throughout the master plan, and therefore I do not find it to be inconsistent with the master plan."
The ordinance now heads back to the Township Council for a public hearing and final vote on Thursday.
Data Centers
If adopted, the measure would add a new Section 126-341.6 for data centers.
The proposed standards would apply to any data center use not already in existence in its current condition at the time the ordinance is passed.
The ordinance says applications would need an approval letter from the serving utility, details on substations and utility connections, a closed-loop cooling system, water and wastewater details, renewable energy, heat waste recovery and pre- and post-construction sound studies.
Residential Lighting Standards
The proposal would also create Chapter 152, titled "Light Nuisance in Residential Areas."
Under the draft language, outside lighting in residential areas must be arranged so it does not adversely affect adjacent residential buildings or streets.
It would prohibit spotlights or other artificial lighting on residential properties that create a continuous concentrated beam beyond property lines, with an exception for motion-detected lighting that turns off within 10 minutes.
Detention Centers
Another section would add to the township's general use restrictions that, except for temporary detention holding areas in a municipal police station, "all detention, correction, or other carceral facilities are expressly prohibited in all zones."
The ordinance says that includes prisons, jails, penitentiaries, detention centers, adult and juvenile detention and correctional facilities, and facilities for people awaiting trial or serving a sentence.
Zoning Permit Changes
The measure would require zoning permits for changes in nonresidential occupancy or use, with permits to be granted or denied within 10 days of receipt by the zoning officer.
It updates definitions including "change in use," "personal service use," "zoning fee" and "zoning permit," and adds conditions for cooperative sober living residences.
The ordinance further revises fee schedules for zoning permits and planning and zoning board applications.
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