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Charlestown council adopts one-year moratorium on data centers
Summary
The Charlestown Common Council unanimously adopted a one-year moratorium on data centers and battery storage units to allow time for fact-finding, expert consultations and zoning updates; a three-year amendment failed for lack of a second.
The Charlestown Common Council voted unanimously Aug. 3 to adopt a one-year moratorium on future data center and battery-storage proposals, citing the need for more information and time to update zoning rules. "A 1 year moratorium will provide the city the necessary time to gather facts, consult with experts, review best practices from other communities, and evaluate our orders," the ordinance sponsor said during debate.
The building commissioner and the advisory planning commission had recommended the pause after a unanimous vote by the commission. Council members debated whether a longer pause was warranted; one member moved to change the moratorium to three years but the amendment failed for lack of a second after attorneys warned longer moratoria can invite litigation. The council then suspended the rules and approved the ordinance on second reading the same night. The mayor also said redevelopment-commission improvements to Hijacks Road would be funded with tax revenue from the data center.
