Chelmsford Town Meeting to Consider Bylaw Prohibiting Medium and Large Data Centers
Chelmsford Town Meeting is scheduled to vote on a proposed zoning bylaw that would prohibit medium- and large-scale data centers in the town. The measure would allow smaller facilities under specified power and size limits, with some requiring a special permit.
Chelmsford’s fall Town Meeting is set to consider Article 23, a zoning bylaw developed with the Planning Board that would establish four data center categories based on size, power consumption and fuel storage. Accessory small data centers would be allowed in commercial and industrial zones, while small data centers could operate in industrial zones with a special permit.
The proposal would prohibit medium data centers using up to 3 megawatts and large facilities using more than 3 megawatts. The discussion comes as Chelmsford has smaller data centers but no large-scale facility comparable to Markley Group’s operation in neighboring Lowell.