After resident testimony, council refers proposed data-center moratorium to law department

Councilors voted to send a proposed temporary moratorium on permitting and approving new and expanded data center facilities to the city’s law department and Department of Planning and Development (DPD) for drafting and zoning review after heated public comment. Councilor Kim Scott introduced the motion, arguing that data centers are not defined in current zoning, strain city utilities and lack standards for buffering, noise and fuel storage.

Residents and advocates told the council the proposal should capture pending fuel amendments and not allow a loophole for large diesel storage. Mary Wambui, a Lowell resident, urged the council to ensure the moratorium would prevent developers from returning via unregulated fuel amendments, saying a 50‑megawatt facility could draw as much power “as up to 30,000 homes.” Jonathan Grossman, representing a local climate justice group, called for community benefits agreements and cited air‑quality and health impacts of diesel. Eileen Castle, who lives adjacent to the Markley site, described intrusive cameras and quality‑of‑life impacts and urged stronger neighborhood protections.

Council discussion emphasized the need for clearer definitions, protective buffers, transparent data on energy and water use, and independent impact analyses (noise, air, water). After debate, members voted to refer the moratorium language to the law department and DPD so staff can draft a temporary moratorium ordinance and define the conditions under which it would be lifted.

The council’s referral does not implement a moratorium immediately but asks staff to prepare regulatory language and analyses for future council consideration.