On the agenda: Paramus meeting — Data Center (Jul 1)

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PARAMUS ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AGENDA
DATE: WEDNESDAY JULY 1, 2026 | TIME: 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Zoom

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L CALL TO ORDER

1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of JUNE 3, 2026 Minutes

Il. MAYOR AND COUNCIL UPDATE

Ill. PLANNING BOARD UPDATE

IV. P.E.C. COMMUNICATION

1. Mail
2. Updates from DPW

v. OLD BUSINESS
1. Environmental Commission Budget
2. Saddle River Restoration Grant Application
3. Retailer Plastic Reduction Initiative
4. Data Center Ordinance Draft Review
5. End of Year Report
6. Bylaws
7. Meeting Time Vote
8. Environmental Commission Roles & Responsibilities

VI. | NEW BUSINESS
1. Social Media Access Revocation
2. Bee City USA Ordinance
3. Light Pollution Ordinance
4. National Night Out
5. Farmer’s Market

VI. PUBLIC COMMENT
VI. ADJOURNMENT

COUNTY OF BERGEN
BOROUGH OF PARAMUS, STATE OF NEW JERSEY

ORDINANCE NO.

ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF
PARAMUS, COUNTY OF BERGEN, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, TO DEFINE DATA
CENTERS AND DESIGNATE DATA CENTERS AS A PROHIBITED USE IN ALL
ZONES WITHIN THE BOROUGH OF PARAMUS

WHEREAS, Borough of Paramus’s Master Plan emphasizes protection of the Borough’s
environmental resources and historic and cultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, data centers, by nature, present an intense and unique form of land use and
development, posing significant challenges related to electricity consumption, noise, air quality,
water use, community character and long-term planning objectives; and

WHEREAS, preliminary data cited by Members of the New Jersey State Legislature has
cautioned that large-scale data centers can use as much as 3 to 5 million gallons of water in a single
day between liquid cooling and water consumed to generate the energy that powers them; and

WHEREAS, this extreme volume of water usage impacts homes and businesses both within the
municipality and the surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, preliminary studies noted by the State Legislature also indicate that some centers
require 300 MW of electricity, which is roughly equivalent to the output of a small data modular
nuclear reactor; and

WHEREAS, aside from increases in taxes and governmental services across the board, in only
the last year the majority of the State has already seen consumer energy costs increase more than
twenty percent (20%), with additional increases expected within the next few months; and

WHEREAS, the high-tech data centers that are proliferating throughout the state consume a large
amount of electrical power at a time when energy costs are increasing for ratepayers; and

WHEREAS, it is well established that overdevelopment, urbanization and overuse of
environmental resources impacts subterranean aquifers and the quality of drinking and other water
resources and poses a substantial strain on community water resources; and

WHEREAS, the Borough is conscious of the hazards, such as depletion of critical groundwater
resources, and the impact on the environmental and natural resources posed by the scope, depth
and pervasiveness of large-scale commercial data center operations; and

WHEREAS, municipal regulations designed for the preservation of the environment and the

protection of ecological values are a well-recognized, legitimate and proper exercise of
municipality authority; and

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WHEREAS, cutting and removal of trees has been found to cause and create increased soil erosion
and dust, instability and deterioration in the value of surrounding property and other adverse
environmental and geographical conditions; and

WHEREAS, dramatic increases and changes in population, development and the impact of certain
data center operations on residents, businesses, the environment, and private and public property
have imposed significant burdens on municipal resources and have created increased need to
balance the rights and interests of the residents and general public with that of the legitimate rights
of property owners to conduct business without unreasonable regulation; and

WHEREAS, in light of these significant changes in confluence with modern advancement in
technology, scientific and environmental research that have allowed for a more accurate and
comprehensive understanding of the hazards and dangers posed to surrounding property,
environmental and natural resources, the general public, and the proliferation and expansion of
governmental regulation of the environment, safety and business in general, that have occurred
since the enactment of the municipalities zoning and development regulations, the Borough has
determined it necessary and appropriate to amend and update its ordinances to adequately address
data center uses in a manner that best reflects present needs and realities; and

WHEREAS, the Borough has determined that it is at this time necessary and appropriate, and in
the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of its residents and members of the public who
visit, travel or conduct business in the Borough, to amend the Municipal Code of the Borough to
include all manner of data centers land use and development as a nonpermitted use within the
geographic boundaries of the Borough and to otherwise improve and strengthen the nature, scope,
manner and effectiveness of such regulations.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and Borough Council of the Borough
of Paramus, County of Bergen, State of New Jersey, as follows:

New language is underlined and deletions are indicated with strikethroughs:

Section 1. Chapter 429 Zoning, Article II Definitions and Word Usage, Section 429-6 Definitions,
is hereby amended to add the following definition:

§ 429-6 Definitions.

DATA CENTER

Any facility used primarily for the storage. management, and processing of digital or electronic
data, which houses computer and network systems, including associated components such as
servers, network equipment_and_ appliances, telecommunications, and data storage systems.
systems for monitoring and managing infrastructure performance, internet-related equipment and
services, data communications connections. environmental controls. fire protection systems, and
security systems and services. A data center is not a warehouse. Any use with a power density of
2 to 4MW or more per acre shall be considered a data center. Ancillary uses of a data center may

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2 include environmental controls, fire suppression. generators. redundant power supplies and
security facilities. Typical operations of a data center may include the need for separate
transformers. electrical substations. and utility infrastructure that shall be considered separate uses.

Section 2. Chapter 429 Zoning, Article VII Uses Prohibited in All Zones, Section 429-19
Prohibited Uses(A), is hereby amended to add the following prohibited use:

§ 429-19 Prohibited uses.

(59) Data Centers

Section 3. This Ordinance shall be construed so as not to conflict with any provision of New Jersey
or Federal law. The provisions of this Ordinance shall be cumulative with, and not in substitution
for, all other applicable zoning, planning, and land use regulations. In the event of any
inconsistency or conflict between the provisions of this Ordinance or other local requirements, the
provisions of this Ordinance shall apply.

Section 4. If any provisions of this Ordinance shall be adjudged invalid, such adjudication shall
not affect the validity of the remaining provisions which shall be deemed severable therefrom.

Section 5. After introduction, the Borough Clerk is hereby directed to provide a copy of the within
Ordinance to the Paramus Planning Board for its review in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26
and N.J.S.A. 40:55D-64. The Planning Board is directed to make and transmit to the Borough
Council within 35 days after referral a report, including identification of any provisions in the
proposed Ordinance which are inconsistent with the Master Plan and recommendations concerning
any inconsistencies and any other matter as the Board deems appropriate.

Section 6. After introduction, the Borough Clerk is hereby directed to provide by personal service,
certified mail or email with confirmation that the email was delivered, at least 10 days prior to the
scheduled hearing, a copy of this Ordinance and a Notice of Hearing in accordance with N.J.S.A.
40:55D-15 to: the clerk of any adjoining municipalities located within 200 feet of the boundaries
of the affected properties; and the County Planning Board.

Section 7. After introduction, the Borough Clerk, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:49-2 and
N.L.S.A. 40:49-2.1 is hereby directed to publish this Ordinance in its entirety or by title and
summary at least once in a newspaper published and circulated in the municipality, if there is one,
and if not, in a newspaper printed in the county and circulating in the municipality, together with
a notice of the introduction thereof, the time and place when and where it will be further considered
for final passage. The publication shall include a clear and concise statement prepared by the Clerk
setting forth the purpose of this Ordinance and a time and place when and where a copy of this
Ordinance can be obtained without cost by any member of the general public. The publication
shall be at least 1 week prior to the scheduled hearing.

Section 8. Upon adoption, the Borough Clerk, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:49-2 and N.J.S.A.

40:49-2.1, is hereby directed to publish this Ordinance, in its entirety or by title and summary,
together with a notice of the date of passage or approval, at least once in a newspaper published

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and circulated in the municipality, if there is one, and if not, in a newspaper printed in the county
and circulating in the municipality.

Section 9. Upon adoption, the Borough Clerk, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-16, shall
forward a copy of this Ordinance to the County Planning Board for filing.

Section 10. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 35:3-2a, the Borough Clerk is further directed to publish
the legal notices pertaining to this Ordinance on the Borough's official internet website.

Section 11. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its adoption, passage and
publication according to law.

Attest: Approved:

ANNEMARIE KRUSZNIS, RMC/CMC CHRISTOPHER DIPIAZZA
Borough Clerk Mayor

Introduced:

Adopted:

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