Wilmington to explore bylaw prohibiting data centers
Wilmington's Town Manager is proposing an explicit bylaw to prohibit data centers, stating current zoning already implicitly bans them. This move is driven by resident concerns over water, electricity, and noise impacts, particularly after a resident referenced issues in Lowell. The town aims for a clear legal stance against future data center development.
Wilmington, Massachusetts, is considering drafting a specific bylaw to explicitly prohibit data centers within its town limits. Town Manager Eric Slagle informed the Select Board that while current zoning bylaws implicitly disallow data centers—as they are not listed as permitted uses—the town should take further steps for a clearer prohibition. He suggested the Economic Development Committee define "data center," after which the Planning Board could draft a prohibitory bylaw for Town Meeting approval. Slagle noted this approach is preferred over a temporary moratorium.
This initiative stems from resident Robert Fasulo's concerns about the potential negative impacts of data centers, including high water and electricity consumption, and increased noise, citing the Markley Data Center in nearby Lowell, which recently faced a lawsuit challenging its expansion. Fasulo emphasized that without an explicit definition, the town might be vulnerable to data center development under different classifications. The town's proactive stance reflects growing regional anxieties over the rapid expansion of the data center industry.