Lowell council adopts one-year moratorium on new data-center permits after heated hearing

The Lowell City Council voted Tuesday to adopt a one-year moratorium on new permits and expansions for data centers, drawing extensive public comment from neighborhood residents, environmental advocates, union members and company employees.

The moratorium, adopted as amended to incorporate the planning board's recommendations, pauses acceptance of new applications and expansions for data centers while city departments, outside experts and stakeholders study zoning, setbacks, noise and air impacts, utility demand and options for a community benefits agreement. Council members emphasized the pause is not a ban but a time to negotiate protections for nearby residents.

Residents who live near the Markley data center urged the council to act. "There has been no transparency with this project whatsoever," said Jake Fors of 36 Iowa Street, who told councilors he and other neighbors want a seat at the table and a binding community benefits agreement. Several speakers described diesel generators, water tanks placed close to homes and routine generator testing as sources of noise and air concerns.

Supporters of the moratorium pointed to city incentives and limited local job creation. Mary Woi, a resident who said the city offered approximately $77 million in tax incentives to the industry, told the council the local return has been roughly "30 jobs" and that a pause would allow the city to evaluate long-term infrastructure and neighborhood tradeoffs.

Industry and labor representatives urged caution. Markley employees and union representatives said the company has hired local residents, cleaned a previously blighted site and invested in noise and filtration mitigation. "We do a lot for the community," said Andrew Weez, introduced as a Markley maintenance supervisor, adding that a pause could jeopardize current projects and hundreds of jobs he said the company supports.

Council members pressed company representatives for clarifications about the moratorium's effects on ongoing projects and employees. A Markley representative told the council the moratorium would affect future expansions but that existing operations and current staff were not expected to be shut down as a direct result of the vote.

Councilors who supported the moratorium said the pause creates time for technical study and negotiation. Councilor Robinson, who moved the final amended measure, described the pause as an opportunity for the company and neighbors to craft a community benefits agreement that addresses noise, air quality, traffic and enforcement mechanisms. The council asked for quarterly updates during the moratorium.

Vote and next steps The council adopted the ordinance as amended by roll call. The motion to adopt the amended moratorium was moved by Councilor Robinson and seconded by Councilor Mcdana. The final roll call recorded a unanimous yea vote from the members present (11 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain). The council instructed staff to convene stakeholders, pursue technical studies, and return with periodic reports on progress.

Why it matters Council members said data centers were not anticipated in current zoning standards and that the moratorium gives Lowell time to modernize regulation, protect nearby residents and set clear expectations for future applicants. Supporters said a moratorium is a standard planning tool to manage new industrial uses near homes; opponents warned of job risk and urged reliance on state regulators and company-led mitigation.

The council also asked staff to explore a community benefits framework and to ensure the moratorium includes clear enforcement provisions and timelines for reporting back to the council.

The council adopted the moratorium after the planning board's unanimous recommendation to pause new permits for data centers while the city reviews zoning, infrastructure and neighborhood impacts. The measure takes effect immediately for new applications; staff will prepare a schedule of studies and stakeholder meetings during the coming months and report to the council periodically.