Township Council — September 3, 2026

What was decided

Present: Bucko, Kirsh and Council President Geiger, with Mayor Moench. Councilwoman Isla and Councilman Ring were absent. Every vote below was 3-0 (ayes Bucko, Kirsh, Geiger; Isla and Ring absent).

Ordinance #26-15: data centers

#26-15, a new section of Chapter 126, Article XLV, setting requirements for data centers and hyperscale data centers, was adopted. Township Planner Katherine Sarmad said the ordinance defines a data center as having a power density of 2 megawatts or more per acre and a hyperscale data center as having a power demand of 80 megawatts or more; that it does not permit data centers of any size; that data centers are not a permitted use in any zone outside the Greymark redevelopment area and the ordinance does not change that; and that it sets standards (including low-frequency noise, generators, water source, renewable energy and waste heat recovery) for an owner who applies to the Zoning Board for a use variance. Asked by Kirsh whether it would apply to 1200 Route 22, Attorney Corsini said that, “broadly speaking,” it would. The minutes record no Planning Board recommendation from its September 1 review. See data centers.

Eleven people spoke at the hearing:

• Ed Caldwell of Mayflower Court questioned whether the protections suffice for a possible data center at 1200 Route 22 East (noise studies, size, closeness to homes, post-construction noise testing, property values) and asked the Council to reconsider what the minutes record as “Ordinance 255”.
• Cathy Franco of Weemac Road asked why the township did not ban data centers or restrict larger ones, and said she understood the ordinance would not apply at 1200 Route 22 because it is a redevelopment area.
• Megan Dowden read a statement for Howard Teichman urging repeal of the 1200 Route 22 redevelopment plan ordinance now rather than after the litigation.
• Curtis Kraut of Adamsville Road, whose property borders the site, questioned whether the standards would apply when a redevelopment plan supersedes the land use code unless silent, asked for clearer terms and power thresholds, and urged amending the plan or removing data center use. Tina Notas of Adamsville Road finished reading his statement and asked whether rules apply below the 2-megawatt threshold.
• Jeffrey Torre of Adamsville Road thanked the Council for the limits and said residents oppose data centers near homes regardless of size. David Kleszyk of Woodside Lane questioned the plan’s three residential lots, earlier rezoning and setbacks, and opposed a data center there.
• Carolyn Gioia of Palley Court suggested community benefit agreements, limits on non-disclosure agreements, clarity on proximity to homes, and attention to the combined grid demand of smaller data centers. Jen Loughran of Falcon Court supported the ordinance and suggested community benefits such as public spaces and flood mitigation.
• Laurie Wade of Union Township asked for review of the hyperscale threshold and stronger noise, generator, emissions and heat provisions. John Cronin of Basking Ridge asked what technical expertise the township uses; Council members, Pappas and Sarmad said the planner, engineer and board experts review applications and boards may retain specialists.

Resolutions

• #26-09-03-199, an Affordable Housing Trust Fund grant agreement of $133,000 with Midland Adult Services, Inc. for a group home at 305 Raymond Court (Block 444 Lot 19). See Fourth Round housing.
• #26-09-03-200 and -201, fee waivers for a Pioneer Family Success Center campfire event at the Bridgewater YMCA and the Somerville Elks food truck events.
• The KM Construction change order was tabled again. The July 23 and August 6 minutes were approved by voice vote.

Discussion and reports

• Supporting documents: Bucko proposed exploring ways to give the public access to supporting documents for agenda items; Corsini said it can be reviewed with the clerk and Administration.
• A proclamation honored Bridgewater’s senior citizens. Superintendent of Recreation Rachel Barrett presented the Division of Recreation (at least 73 in-town and 19 travel soccer teams this fall).
• Pappas said police issued a statement after parents’ questions about changed school bus pickups. Geiger toured the Gilbride and Middlebrook pump stations. Kirsh said pet-store bills go to the shelter board in September.

Public comment

• David Kitchen, Sam Pena and Thomas Shaffrey, all of Vosseller Avenue, asked for permanent measures against speeding on the 25-mph road, including a permanent flashing speed sign and a speed hump; Pena offered his property for monitoring and raised school-bus crossings. Captain Thorson said officers are assigned to monitor the road each shift and a speed study is underway, and estimated a permanent speed sign at about $5,000. Pappas said bus stop locations would be coordinated with the school district. Cathy Franco supported a 25-mph limit and a radar sign.
• Lois Smith of Elmore Drive raised garbage cans left out permanently on her street.
• Megan Dowden of Porter Way West reported divots and broken fencing at the Chimney Rock baseball fields, added to the Public Works list.
• Heather Boyce of Hillsborough said a towing company on the police rotation was not complying with the township’s towing ordinance after her son’s May 1 accident; Pappas asked for the company’s name.
• Timothy Kenny of Short Hills Drive raised invasive plants and asked that any lighting ordinance consider color temperature and brightness.
• Jen Loughran thanked recreation staff and asked for police attention on school walking routes.

Records

• Minutes (township document page)
• Agenda (posted on the township site; LocalWhy has not yet reviewed it)
• Video on the township’s YouTube channel (2:58:56). This page follows the Clerk’s minutes.