East Bay Updates: Three Mile Work Planned, Skegemog Raptor Center Approved, Data Center Rules Eyed

East Bay Township planning commissioners are in the process of developing updated zoning regulations for data centers. During a recent meeting, the board discussed potential rules, including restricting data centers to industrial districts and requiring a special land use permit for their development. According to Claire Karner, the Township Director of Planning & Zoning, legal counsel has advised that outright bans on data centers are typically not legally sustainable, but townships can implement regulations to control their location and impact. The commissioners are considering various limitations, such as maximum size, setbacks, building heights, and operating hours for backup generators. Future requirements may include environmental impact assessments and traffic studies for data center projects. Karner noted that the township has limited suitable locations for large-scale data centers due to their significant energy and water demands, although the Townline/Hammond area was identified as a possible exception. The planning commissioners are expected to continue their work on these updated rules in the coming months.