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Planning Board weighs limits on large data centers, and reviews residential dimensional amendment timeline
Summary
Board members discussed a proposed zoning amendment that would prohibit or limit large data centers because of water and energy impacts, and received an update on a separate residential dimensional amendment; members suggested thresholds (5,000–25,000 sq ft) and asked for more precise definitions before drafting regulations.
Members of the Newburyport City Planning Board used part of the June 6 meeting to review two separate planning items: a proposed residential-dimension amendment that is returning to joint public hearings and a preliminary proposal to prohibit or limit large data centers in the city’s zoning code.
Staff updated the board on the residential dimensional amendment and supplemental materials the City Council is reviewing; board members were urged to review posted documents ahead of a July 15 follow-up and staff said the council would hold further committee meetings. "We'll be next looking at some of the sort of visuals, the sort of schematic plan, renderings... and seeing how they're pulling that together," staff said, urging board members to follow the council’s postings.
On the data center proposal, board members and staff discussed whether the city should treat data centers as a prohibited use or introduce size thresholds to distinguish small, community‑serving facilities from large, high-water‑and-energy users. Speakers raised infrastructure concerns: the city’s water superintendent reportedly advised that large data centers would strain local water supplies used for cooling. Members suggested possible square‑foot thresholds ranging from 5,000 to 25,000 square feet to identify large facilities and proposed limiting only larger facilities rather than small‑scale server rooms.
Board discussion focused on definitions and practical enforcement: members recommended starting with a lower threshold (for example, 5,000 sq ft) as a conservative first step, then refining the definition later if needed. "Because it's so new and it's evolving... start simple, start more limited," one board member said. Participants noted that transmission-line or power‑distribution upgrades required by large facilities could have major regional infrastructure impacts.
The board did not take a final vote on the data-center language at the June 6 session and asked staff and sponsors to come back with clarified definitions, example thresholds used in other communities, and an analysis of water and power implications before the amendments advance to formal hearings.
