Mansfield becomes first town in Mass. to pass near-total ban on data centers

At its Annual Town Meeting on May 5, Mansfield, Massachusetts, became the first town in the state to enact a dedicated data center zoning bylaw. Voters approved Article 23, a comprehensive amendment that significantly restricts the size and location of data centers, effectively prohibiting large-scale facilities while allowing smaller operations under stringent municipal oversight. This proactive measure was spearheaded by Mansfield's Planning Board and Director of Planning and Development, Sarah Raposa, to prepare for potential future development pressures. Town officials, including Town Manager Mallory Aronstein, focused on infrastructure concerns, particularly local electricity and water capacity. The new bylaw limits data centers to Tier I facilities (up to two megawatts) in specific industrial and planned business districts, requiring special permit approval from the Planning Board. Larger Tier II and Tier III facilities are banned across the town. Additionally, the bylaw mandates detailed engineering reports for applicants, covering electrical demand, cooling systems, water consumption, noise, and air quality. It also modernized the town's noise standards, capping data center noise at 50 dBA during the day and 45 dBA at night when measured at "sensitive receptors" like homes and schools. This approach aims to protect community resources and manage economic development thoughtfully.