'Micro data center' proposed for blighted Locke Road property to be considered by Concord Planning Board

Northpoint Engineering, LLC, a Concord-based firm, is seeking a major site plan and architectural design review approval from the Concord Planning Board for a "micro data center" project at 52 Locke Road. The 8,160-square-foot facility, proposed by landowner Granite Municipal Manufacturing & Sales, LLC, would house computer servers, office space, a garage, and a residential caretaker unit, with approximately 7,220 square feet dedicated to data center operations. The Planning Board is scheduled to review the application's completeness at its upcoming Wednesday meeting, with city staff recommending its acceptance and the scheduling of a public hearing for mid-October.

The project aims to address environmental concerns often associated with larger data centers. Northpoint's narrative describes a "single-phase immersion cooling technology" that uses a closed-loop system for heat capture and reuse or dissipation, stating it would not require water for normal cooling. However, city staff comments indicate a proposed six-inch water service, prompting the city to request more details on potential water usage scenarios. The property, nearly 21 acres, is bounded by protected wetlands, and the proposal includes a revegetation and restoration plan for previously deforested buffer areas.

The site at 52 Locke Road has a history of failed development proposals, including a poultry processing plant in 2015 that faced significant neighbor opposition, and a light industrial/self-storage concept earlier this year. The micro data center proposal emerged as the latest plan for the challenging property.