East Bradford Weighs Strict Data Center Zoning Rules
East Bradford Township supervisors are considering new, strict zoning restrictions for data centers, which will be discussed at a public hearing. The proposed ordinance aims to control where facilities can operate and how they manage power, water, noise, and emergency risks. This includes specific requirements for setbacks, height limits, energy plans, water usage, and decommissioning.
East Bradford Township supervisors are set to hold a public hearing on September 10 to consider a proposed ordinance that would impose strict zoning restrictions on data centers. The new rules aim to regulate where data center facilities may operate and how they address power consumption, water usage, noise levels, and emergency risks.
The proposed ordinance would designate data centers and data center campuses as conditional uses exclusively within the township's Industrial District, requiring approval from the Board of Supervisors following a public hearing. Key provisions include minimum acreage requirements (five acres for facilities under 100,000 square feet, ten acres for larger or multi-building campuses), significant setbacks from residences, schools, daycares, parks, hospitals (300 feet), public streets (500 feet), and property lines (100 feet). Building heights would be capped at 45 feet, including rooftop equipment.
Developers would be mandated to submit detailed plans on electricity demand, energy sources, storage, and backup-power systems, with a focus on maximizing renewable energy and efficiency. Backup generators would be permitted only during outages and limited testing (capped at 100 hours annually), with explicit prohibitions against peak shaving or grid supply. Noise and vibration studies would be required both pre- and post-construction, with operators responsible for corrective plans if standards are violated. The ordinance also addresses water usage, requiring connections to public water and sewer systems, prohibiting groundwater or direct waterway withdrawals as primary cooling sources, and generally mandating air-cooled or closed-loop systems. Additionally, applicants would need to provide emergency-response plans, cover training costs for first responders, and submit a decommissioning plan, potentially backed by financial security.