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Westbrook council adopts temporary moratorium on data center development
Summary
The Westbrook City Council voted unanimously on June 1 to adopt an ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on data center development while staff and the Planning Board review land-use definitions and regulations.
The Westbrook City Council adopted a temporary moratorium on data center development during its June 1 meeting, moving to pause permitting while city staff and the Planning Board rework definitions and regulations. Vice President Michael Shaughnessy moved the measure and Councilor Victor Chau seconded; the minutes record the motion as carried unanimously.
The council considered Order 2026-66, described in the minutes as "Adopting a Data Center Moratorium Ordinance." City Administrator Angela Holmes and Councilors Anna Turcotte and Victor Chau spoke during the discussion, emphasizing the need for clearer land-use definitions and regulatory detail before further permits are issued. Mayor David Morse and Assistant City Administrator Jennie Franceschi also participated in the discussion as recorded in the meeting minutes.
Councilor Chau subsequently moved, with Councilor Gary Rairdon seconding, to refer a review of data center definitions and regulations in the Land Use Ordinance to the Planning Board; that referral passed by show of hands with none opposed. The referral directs staff and the Planning Board to examine definitions and regulatory language and report back to the council for potential ordinance changes.
The minutes record the ordinance adoption and referral as part of the council's action on Order 2026-66; however, the meeting minutes contain an internal inconsistency in roll-call reporting for several votes (see audit note). According to the minutes the moratorium was approved at the meeting and the Planning Board review is the next procedural step.
