Planning board to prepare permanent zoning amendment after moratorium pause
Summary
Council members and staff said the Hopkinton Planning Board is expected to review and recommend a zoning ordinance amendment prohibiting data centers; the board must advertise public notice and may lack quorum at its next meeting, which could affect the 61-day timeline.
Council members and staff discussed the planning board's role in preparing a permanent zoning amendment to follow the emergency moratorium. Attorney (Speaker 6) and staff (Speaker 3) said the planning board would provide a recommendation to the council after its deliberations.
Staff noted the planning board intended to place a "data center prohibition discussion" on its August agenda but had a quorum issue. Councilors and the attorney reiterated that statutory advertising (three weeks) and a recommended planning-board report will be required before the council can adopt a permanent amendment; if the planning board cannot meet or the process runs past 61 days the council may schedule another emergency meeting or reenact the ordinance.
The planning department was described as having prepared a memo outlining data-center issues and a recommended ordinance amendment, but the timing depends on the board's ability to meet and to complete required public notices.
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