Data centers in Massachusetts local government
What Massachusetts city councils, county boards and school districts are deciding about data centers — plain-English summaries written from official agendas and minutes, updated as meetings happen.
48 Massachusetts meetings since 2024 covered data centers. Counts are directional — coverage varies by place and platform.
Places in Massachusetts with the most data centers activity
- Malden, MA (9)
- Westfield, MA (8)
- Chelmsford, MA (4)
- Whitman, MA (4)
- Mansfield, MA (4)
- Leominster, MA (3)
- Pittsfield, MA (3)
- Lowell, MA (3)
- Randolph, MA (2)
- Attleboro, MA (2)
- Agawam, MA (2)
- Easthampton, MA (2)
Latest matching meetings
Town Council committee to hold hearings on data center and zoning amendments
The Community and Economic Development Committee and Planning Board are holding a joint virtual meeting. The body will conduct hearings on two proposed zoning ordinance amendments.
Town Council to consider creating an Affordable Housing Trust
The Zoning and Ordinance Subcommittee will review three council orders. One proposes amending the General Ordinances to establish an Affordable Housing Trust. The other two request the Town Council to start zoning ordinance amendments for data centers and for planned residential development. No decisions have been…
Planning Board to hold joint hearing on data center zoning moratorium
The Planning Board will hold a joint public hearing with the Municipal Council to discuss a petition to amend the city's Zoning Ordinance regarding a data center moratorium.
Planning Board to recommend zoning changes for data centers and multi-family housing
The Leominster Planning Board will hold public hearings on petitions to amend zoning ordinances regarding data centers and multi-family housing, and will review site plans for residential and auto repair projects.
Planning Board to hold hearing on data center moratorium
The Planning Board will conduct a public hearing regarding a proposed ordinance to enact a temporary moratorium on data centers. The board will also review a site plan for a property on Silver Street.
Subcommittee discusses affordable housing trust and zoning amendments
The Zoning and Ordinance Subcommittee will review proposed changes to town ordinances and zoning regulations. Discussions include creating an affordable housing trust and amending provisions for data centers and planned residential developments.
Council considers data center moratorium and fence height ordinance
The Agawam City Council will hold public hearings on ordinances regarding fence height and a temporary moratorium on data centers. The body will also review a zone change petition and two financial resolutions.
Planning Board to discuss data center zoning regulations
The Ashland Planning Board will discuss potential zoning changes for data centers, review the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee and Design Review Committee, and receive updates on the Housing Production Plan and 40B developments. Administrative matters include reorganization of roles and approval of past…
Planning Board discusses Riverneck neighborhood zoning conflicts
The board will hold a public hearing for a new 4,283 sq ft commercial building at 91 Tyngsboro Road. It will also discuss ongoing zoning conflicts in the Riverneck neighborhood, data center zoning regulations, and updates to contractor yard definitions. The meeting begins with an executive session on two pending…
Board to consider creating Downtown Core District and other zoning changes
The Community Development Board will hold a virtual meeting to continue public hearings on several zoning amendments, including a proposal to create a Downtown Core District to expand Form-Based Code into the Westside. Other agenda items include updated Battery Energy Storage System regulations to comply with state…
Council to vote on $1.1M state grant for 911 radio consoles
The City Council will vote on accepting four state grants totaling over $1.6 million for the Westfield Regional Public Safety Communications Center. The grants fund equipment, training, and software for 911 operations. The council also holds public hearings on taking three roads by eminent domain and considers a final…
Council to address FY27 budget and vote on data center moratorium
The Municipal Council will convene to address outstanding FY27 budgetary and end-of-year financial votes, followed by committee meetings. The body will also consider a proposed temporary moratorium on data centers and various public hearings on zoning and traffic ordinances.
Planning Board to discuss Riverneck neighborhood rezoning
The Planning Board will continue a public hearing for a three-lot subdivision at 9 Lady Slipper Lane, though the applicant requests a continuation without discussion. The board will also discuss a proposed rezoning for the Riverneck neighborhood to resolve zoning conflicts and review draft data center zoning…
Planning Board to consider zoning changes for data centers and multi-family housing
The Planning Board will hold public hearings on site plans for commercial and residential projects, and continue hearings on converting a commercial building to residential at 92 Pleasant St. The board will also discuss citizen petitions to amend zoning definitions and use tables, including adding data centers and…
Council considers a temporary moratorium on new data centers
The City Council will hold a public hearing regarding a zoning petition to pause the development of data centers within the city. This measure would impose a temporary freeze on such projects while the city reviews its zoning requirements.
Planning Board to hear data center moratorium and multifamily development proposals
The Westfield Planning Board will hold public hearings on several special permits for commercial and multifamily developments, including a petition from the City Council to temporarily ban data centers. The agenda also includes the review of draft plans and a discussion on zoning provisions.
The June 11, 2026, Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee meeting is cancelled
This meeting was scheduled to discuss the potential impact of solar and battery energy storage on the Barnes Aquifer. Other topics included an aquifer study regarding water quality and projects such as a Senior Center and data centers. The meeting has been cancelled.
Continued hearing on 9 Lady Slipper Lane subdivision with zoning discussions
The Planning Board will hold a continued public hearing on a proposed three-lot subdivision at 9 Lady Slipper Lane, including construction of a paper roadway and waivers. They will also discuss zoning conflicts in the Riverneck neighborhood, data center zoning, a coffee shop inquiry at 210 Boston Road, aquifer…
Malden Planning Board reviews new data center zoning moratorium and special permits
The board will hold public hearings on zoning amendments that create a new data center use category and pause related permits. It will also review special permit requests for a doggy daycare expansion at 10 Maplewood Street and a massage clinic at 75 Pleasant Street. Additionally, the board will provide advisory…
Council to consider self-storage overlay district at 21 Jungle Road
The City Council holds public hearings and a regular meeting to vote on zoning changes, including a proposed overlay district for a self-storage facility at 21 Jungle Road and continued hearings on rezoning parcels at 132 First Street and Brooks Pond Road. New petitions address data center definitions, MU2 district…
Continued hearing for 3-lot subdivision at 9 Lady Slipper Lane
The Planning Board will hold a continued public hearing for a definitive subdivision at 9 Lady Slipper Lane, proposing three lots with a private road and two new single-family homes, one with an accessory dwelling unit. Board members will also discuss data center zoning, a coffee shop zoning inquiry at 210 Boston…
Council to vote on $2.4M snow deficit and police body cameras
The City Council will consider multiple appropriations, including $2.43 million from free cash to cover a snow and ice deficit and $124,380 for police body cameras. They will also discuss ordinances regulating electric bikes/scooters and stormwater management, and a proposed moratorium on new data centers. Other…
City considers 12-month moratorium on new data centers
The committee will discuss old business including a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data center projects, an update on Little River Levee compliance with the Army Corps of Engineers, and restarting the Barnes Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee. They also plan to create a Conservation Plan.
Board to review new grandstand at Wahconah Park in floodplain
The Community Development Board will decide on several site plan reviews, including a new grandstand at Wahconah Park and a storage facility, both in floodplain districts, as well as a manufacturing business and drive-through upgrades. The board will also discuss zoning amendments for a Westside Form Based Code and…
Council to consider FY2027 budgets for Water, Sewer, Community Preservation, Cable Access
The City Council will vote on the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation orders for the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund, Community Preservation Fund, and Cable Access Fund. They will also consider an ordinance amending zoning regulations for data centers and address an Open Meeting Law complaint. Committee reports recommend…
Council to vote on FY2027 budget for water, sewer, community preservation and cable access funds.
The City Council will consider the FY2027 appropriation orders for the Water Sewer Enterprise Fund, Community Preservation Fund, and Cable Access Fund. An ordinance to amend city code regarding data centers is up for discussion. The council will also address an Open Meeting Law complaint from a resident. Several…
Committee to study data center impacts and zoning regulations
The Economic Development Committee will discuss a proposed economic development package from the mayor, a Commercial Street zoning analysis, and an order to study the infrastructure, environmental, health, and economic impacts of data centers on Malden. They will also approve minutes from a previous meeting.
Committee to study data centers' impact and recommend zoning
The Economic Development Committee will discuss a communication from the mayor regarding an economic development package proposal and another on Commercial Street economic/zoning analysis. The committee will also consider an order to study the infrastructure, environmental, health, and economic considerations of data…
Committee to brainstorm vacant properties and discuss tax incentives for redevelopment
The Economic Development Committee will discuss redevelopment of vacant properties including former Peapod/Johnie's, Santander bank, and BFT/Regal Shoe. They will also review Tax Increment Financing (TIF) examples and the required Town Meeting vote process. Other items include solar and battery model bylaws and…
Committee to study data centers and recommend zoning districts
The Economic Development Committee will discuss a proposal to study the infrastructure, environmental, health, and economic impacts of data centers on Malden. They will also receive communications from the mayor regarding an Economic Development Package and an analysis of Commercial Street. No formal votes are…
Committee to study data center impacts and zoning
The Economic Development Committee will consider an order to study infrastructure, environmental, health, and economic impacts of data centers and recommend zoning. The committee will also discuss the mayor's Economic Development Package and a Commercial Street economic/zoning analysis.
City Council considers one-year data center moratorium
The Council will vote on a one-year moratorium on data center permits to study infrastructure and health impacts. They will also authorize a nine-year BlueBikes contract with no city funds, adjust June meeting dates for budget hearings, and consider $1.6 million in Community Preservation Act funds for rental…
Council to consider one-year moratorium on data centers
The City Council will vote on a proposed one-year moratorium on new data centers to allow for studies on infrastructure and environmental impacts. They will also consider over $1.6 million in Community Preservation Act funding for affordable housing, park restoration, and historic preservation. Other items include…
Board to consider BESS zoning amendment for state compliance
The Community Development Board will vote on becoming petitioner for an amendment to city zoning code regarding Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to comply with new state regulations. They will also discuss the Westside Form Based Code and data centers. A determination that subdivision approval is not required is…
Aquifer committee to review solar/battery impact on Barnes Aquifer
The Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee will discuss a white paper on the potential impact of solar and battery energy storage systems on the Barnes Aquifer. They will also review an aquifer study addressing recharge and water quality issues. Specific projects that may adversely impact the aquifer, including a…
Committee to consider 12-month moratorium on new data center projects
The Natural Resources Committee will discuss and potentially advance a 12-month moratorium on new data center projects. They will also review several longstanding items including the Water Resources Protection District, a Conservation Plan, and constituent questions about environmental practices.
Council considers new technical school and data center moratorium
The City Council will discuss a presentation for a new technical school and a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data center projects. The body is also reviewing several police funding transfers and public safety grants.
Town of Mansfield seeks special permit to store hydraulic oil in residential zone
The Planning Board will hold several public hearings, including a special‑permit request by the Town of Mansfield to use, store, handle, and generate hazardous materials—specifically standard‑weight hydraulic oil—in a Zone II Wellhead Protection Area at 500 East Street and 99 Maple Street. Other items include a…
Committee will discuss sales tax exemption incentives for large data centers
The Whitman Economic Development Committee will meet on March 19, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Select Board meeting room. The agenda includes reviewing minutes from February 19, 2026, and discussing state sales‑tax exemptions for large data centers, tax‑increment financing (TIF) options, and Chapter 43D expedited…
150 Oakland Street permit hearing to convert commercial space to residential units
The Mansfield Planning Board will hold a continued public hearing on the 150 Oakland Owner LLC application to change Building B from 8,500 sq ft of commercial use to eight residential units, including one affordable unit. Additional public hearings on a town hazardous‑materials special permit, a BFS Group retail use…