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Ordinance committee advances ban on new data centers to full council; existing facilities would be grandfathered
Summary
The committee voted to send draft language to full council that would define 'data center' and make the use not allowable in any zoning district; the solicitor said pre‑existing data centers would be grandfathered.
The Ordinance Committee voted Tuesday to forward draft zoning language to the full city council that would add a definition of "data center" to the Holyoke zoning code and designate the use as not allowed in any zoning district.
Councilor Panitch introduced the order and said members had discussed the proposal at prior meetings. The solicitor told the committee the change would not affect existing, pre‑existing data centers, which would be considered grandfathered uses. The committee voted to move the proposed text to full council for consideration and legal form.
Councilors said they wanted to move the measure forward promptly so the full body would have time to review the legal language before any summer recess. The committee did not adopt the ordinance in committee; it instead forwarded the solicitor's drafted amendment for full council deliberation.
Next steps: the ordinance amendment will appear on the full council docket for review, legal form and consideration.
