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Select Board votes to bar gun ranges in town and plans November ballot item on data‑center zoning
Summary
The North Berwick Select Board voted 5‑0 to prohibit gun ranges in town zoning and directed staff to develop comprehensive data‑center language for a possible November ballot measure; staff will draft language by the next meeting.
The North Berwick Select Board voted unanimously on June 2 to prohibit gun ranges in all zones while continuing to refine ordinance language.
Town staff member Dwayne Morin presented research and sample definitions for sport shooting ranges and data centers from several municipalities. He told the board that enacting the draft land‑use language would render the town’s current range a non‑conforming use and that the board wanted to allow responsible indoor ranges to expand only on existing properties rather than permit new ranges on purchased land.
Selectperson Wendy Cowan moved to not allow gun ranges in any zone; Selectperson Jonathan Hall seconded and the motion passed 5‑0. Dwayne also summarized his review of data‑center definitions from jurisdictions including Harrisonburg, VA and New Albany, OH, and recommended comprehensive local wording. The board discussed a moratorium but decided to pursue placing a data‑center definition or regulation on the November ballot; Dwayne said, “we are going to go through the process of getting it on the November ballot,” and noted the Sept. 1 deadline to qualify for that ballot.
Dwayne will draft proposed definitions and ordinance language for the next meeting so the Select Board can decide whether to move forward with a ballot question in advance of the Sept. 1 filing deadline.
