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Planning board flags data centers as zoning gap, staff suggests temporary moratorium option
Summary
Board members said Boxborough zoning lacks clear rules for data centers; staff proposed either drafting local standards or using a temporary moratorium to pause new data-center uses while the town studies impacts and engages the public.
Members of the Boxborough Planning Board raised concerns on July 20 that the town’s zoning does not expressly define or regulate large data centers, a use that has material implications for water use, cooling, and local impacts.
Board members noted the potential for substantial water consumption and heat or noise effects, and said such uses were not envisioned when the current zoning was written. Alec, the town planner, suggested two near-term options: (1) draft zoning language to define and regulate data centers, or (2) adopt a temporary moratorium (commonly 18–24 months) that would pause new data-center development while staff and the board develop policy and conduct public engagement. He described a moratorium as a "pause button" that requires a public hearing and a town-meeting vote but buys time and reduces the risk of hasty regulation.
Members generally favored moving the data-center discussion forward and asked staff to prepare draft language and estimates of potential impacts. Alec referenced Boxborough’s prior use of a temporary moratorium on cannabis as a local example of the tool.
No formal moratorium was adopted at the meeting; members agreed to revisit the issue at the next meeting and to consider combining related zoning changes into a single hearing notice to streamline cost and notice requirements.
