Markley Lowell expands footprint despite opposition

The Lowell Planning Board reluctantly approved definitive subdivision plans for Markley Group LLC's data center properties at 2 Prince Ave., 48 and 56 Newhall St., and 45 Bolt St. The approval was made under duress, as the board faced legal timelines that would have resulted in default approval without conditions if a decision wasn't made by the Aug. 17 meeting. Vice-Chair Gerard Frechette expressed concerns about the risks of a denial being overturned on appeal.

The company's expansion efforts have faced significant pushback from residents and the City Council, citing noise, air quality, and ongoing construction disruptions from the facility, which has grown from seven to 23 diesel-powered backup generators in ten years. Despite a 360-day moratorium on data center expansion enacted by the City Council on March 10, Markley Lowell LLC and Tanner Street Investco LLC, owned by CEO Jeff Markley, filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming exemption from the moratorium. This lawsuit was later dismissed by joint stipulation.

Lowell residents have escalated their opposition by filing multiple lawsuits. In a recent development, Middlesex Superior Court Judge William Barrett granted a motion to stay further installation of emergency backup diesel generators at Markley Lowell, as a residents' case proceeds. Additionally, other residents filed a class-action noise-nuisance lawsuit against Markley in May. The city is also in the process of updating its outdated zoning code, which currently lacks a definition or specific standards for data centers, providing Markley with regulatory maneuvering room for further development.