On the agenda: Bridgewaterma Community and Economic Development Joint Meeting with Planning Board — Data Center (Aug 5)

Town of Bridgewater
Community and Economic Development Committee
August 5, 2026
6:30 PM

Community and Economic Development Joint Meeting with the
Planning Board
The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom.
To attend via video, click on the link below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87325231275
To attend via phone, dial: 1(646) 876-9923
Meeting ID: 873 2523 1275

MEETING AGENDA
Disclosure: Pursuant to Section 20 of Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2020, An Act Relative to Extending Certain
Covid-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency, and the June 30, 2027, extension granted by
Chapter 22 of the Acts of 2022, this meeting for the Town of Bridgewater will be fully remote and accessible to
the public through remote participation to the greatest extent possible. No in-person attendance is permitted.
Citizens who wish to tune in to the meeting may do so via Zoom.
A.

Call to Order

B.

Hearings

C.

a)

Ordinance D-FY26-016: Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment - High Intensity Data
Centers

b)

Proposed Zoning Ordinance D-FY26-018: Zoning Ordinance to Amend Words Pertaining to
'Town Council'

Adjournment of Meeting

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Bridgewater Town Council

Introduced By:
Date Introduced:
First Reading:
Second Reading:
Amendments Adopted:
Third Reading:
Date Adopted:
Date Effective:

Paul Murphy, Councilor
6/2/2026
6/2/2026

Ordinance D-FY26-016: Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment - High Intensity Data Centers
ORDERED, pursuant to MGL, Chapter 40A that the Town Council assembled votes to amend Zoning
Ordinance amendment pursuant to High-Intensity Date Center as follows:
Section 11, Definitions, Add the following:
High-Intensity Data Center: Any facility or group of facilities used for the processing, storage, or operation of
digital data, including artificial intelligence systems, that meets one or more of the following criteria:
a. Electrical Demand: A peak electrical load of 5 megawatts (MW or greater);
b. Water Demand: Consumption of 10,000 gallons per day or more of water for cooling or operations;
c. Facility Size: Contains 25,000 square feet or more of data processing or server space;
d. Cooling Systems: Utilizes industrial-scale cooling systems, including evaporative or liquid cooling, which
increases water or energy demand;
e. Cumulative Impact: Multiple facilities under common ownership or control that collectively meet or exceed
the above thresholds."
Table of Use Regulations, G. Industrial Wholesale and Transportation, Add the following:
Amend Table of Uses Section G. to include “High-Intensity Data Center” and to have it be N in all zoning
districts.
Explanation:
The purpose of this ordinance is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the Town of
Bridgewater by ensuring that land uses placing significant and continuous demands on municipal
infrastructure are appropriately regulated.
The Town recognizes that certain high-intensity data centers, including those supporting artificial intelligence
and large-scale computing operations, require substantial and continuous consumption of electrical power,
NOT FOR ACTION - FIRST READING
VOICE VOTE TO REFER TO PLANNING BOARD AND CEDC
Page 2 of 5

water resources, and supporting infrastructure. Without appropriate regulation, such uses may exceed local
infrastructure capacity, impact service reliability, and alter the character of the community.
This ordinance is intended to ensure that the Town has the ability to evaluate and plan for such uses in a
manner consistent with long-term infrastructure capacity, environmental sustainability, and community needs.

Committee Referrals and Dispositions:
Referral(s)

Disposition(s)

•

•

•

•

•

•

Attachments:

None

NOT FOR ACTION - FIRST READING
VOICE VOTE TO REFER TO PLANNING BOARD AND CEDC
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Bridgewater Town Council

Introduced By:
Date Introduced:
First Reading:
Second Reading:
Amendments Adopted:
Third Reading:
Date Adopted:
Date Effective:

Mary McGrath, Councilor
6/16/2026
6/16/2026

Proposed Zoning Ordinance D-FY26-018: Zoning Ordinance to Amend Words Pertaining to 'Town
Council'
Ordered, by the Town Council, that the Town of Bridgewater's Zoning Ordinance is hereby amended as
follows:
Section 3.0 Use Regulation
3.1.2 Permitted Uses.
In the Following Use Regulations, the uses permitted by right in the district shall be designated by the
letter (Y). Uses designated (N) shall not be permitted in the district. Those uses may be permitted by
special permit in the district, in accordance with Section 10.5, shall be designated by identification of
the Special Permit Granting Authority, which is either:
BA Zoning Board of Appeals
PB Planning and Zoning Board
TC Town Council
10.5.1 Special Permit Grant Authority
The Board of Appeals Planning Board and the Town Council shall be the Special Permit Granting
Authority (SPGA) as specified in the Use Table and various sections of the Ordinance and when
designated herein, shall hear and decide application for special grants.
Section 10.0 Administration and Enforcement
10.6.3 Procedures
Applicants for site plan approval shall submit ten (10) copies of the site plan to the Board for review. The
Board shall provide a copy of the applications to the Fire Department, Building Inspector, Town Council,
NOT FOR ACTION - FIRST READING
VOICE VOTE TO REFER TO PLANNING BOARD & CEDC
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Department of Public Works, Conservation Commission, Board of Health and Police Chief for their
advisory review and comments.
Explanation:

According to the Town of Bridgewater's Town Charter, The Town Council is responsible for making,
amending or repealing laws. No where in the Town Charter does it state that the Town Council should be
issuing special permits or rendering advisory reviews and comments on site plans.
Committee Referrals and Dispositions:
Referral(s)

Disposition(s)

•

•

•

•

•

•

Attachments:

None

NOT FOR ACTION - FIRST READING
VOICE VOTE TO REFER TO PLANNING BOARD & CEDC
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