Dorrance Township holds hearing on data center validity challenge

Dorrance Township held a contentious zoning hearing to address a substantive validity challenge filed by Brewster Land Company. The company contends that the township's 2007 zoning ordinance, predating widespread awareness of data centers, effectively prohibits their development by failing to define or accommodate them. An independent planning consultant, testifying for Brewster Land Company, argued that the ordinance lacks provisions for essential data center infrastructure such as backup generators, cooling systems, and storage, making development unfeasible under current rules. An engineering expert echoed this, classifying data centers as light industrial despite their significant infrastructure needs like transmission lines and diesel generators. However, tonight's hearing focused solely on the legality of the zoning ordinance, not broader concerns like noise, water usage, or environmental impact. Township residents strongly opposed Brewster Land Company's claim, questioning how an ordinance written almost two decades ago could intentionally exclude a technology that was not yet prevalent. They expressed skepticism, asserting that the applicant had not demonstrated clear benefits to the community that would justify any special exemption.