Newtown Township officials vow to toughen jointure's new data center ordinance

Newtown Township supervisors have vowed to strengthen a recently approved joint data center ordinance, characterizing it as a starting point rather than a final resolution. The ordinance, passed in August by Newtown, Upper Makefield, and Wrightstown townships, aims to regulate data center development across the collective zoning authority. Supervisor Elen Snyder stated the measure was adopted "for protection purposes only to get it started," with intentions to make it "much, much stronger."

Despite the ordinance containing restrictions that would effectively bar data centers from Newtown and Upper Makefield, residents have actively pressed for more stringent measures. Concerns raised during public discussions included inadequate setbacks, particularly the 1,000-foot requirement, and the substantial demands data centers place on utilities such as electricity, water, and sewer capacity. Resident Kim Caputo emphasized the need for applicants to demonstrate how they would privately provide utility capacity and bear costs associated with infrastructure impacts, rather than passing them to residents. She also called for specific provisions to protect groundwater and private wells, noting the ordinance's reliance on outdated language for water use.

Resident John Mack criticized the ordinance's drafting, suggesting it lacked sufficient expertise on data centers and recommending the adoption of a more stringent model. Another resident, Bradley Cooper, advocated for a comprehensive overhaul of the township's overall zoning framework. The ordinance, largely drafted by the Bucks County Planning Commission, required all three townships to adopt it separately to avoid extensive delays, with Upper Makefield being the last to approve it on August 18.