Balancing growth: Everett’s right-sized approach to data centers makes sense
Everett, Massachusetts, is considering a new zoning ordinance to regulate data center development on a 105-acre waterfront site, aiming to balance economic growth with community concerns. The proposed rules include size limits, strict water and electricity usage, and noise controls, which developer Everett Landco has voiced concerns about. The Everett City Council is scheduled to deliberate the ordinance, which could set a precedent for managing data center expansion.
The city of Everett, Massachusetts, is pursuing a new approach to data center development, aiming to strike a balance between attracting investment and addressing community concerns over environmental impact, noise, and resource consumption. The Everett Planning and Development Board unanimously voted in April to allow a future data center on a 105-acre site near the Mystic River, formerly an ExxonMobil storage facility, provided it adheres to a proposed ordinance.
The ordinance, which the Everett City Council is set to deliberate, includes stringent regulations. Key provisions cap data centers at 20,000 square feet and 5 megawatts of electrical capacity, mandate closed-loop water systems using non-potable water, impose a 200-foot setback for noise mitigation with regular monitoring, require renewable on-site or off-site power with dedicated transmission lines, and stipulate the creation of permanent jobs within 1,000 feet of the facility. Sam Lambert of the Sierra Club Massachusetts commended the ordinance for its effort to accommodate development while protecting residents.
However, the proposed regulations have drawn objections from Everett Landco, a joint venture between The Davis Companies and Global Partners LP, the owners and developers of the site. In a letter to the City Council, the developers argued that the strict size limitations make a standalone facility commercially unviable, effectively acting as a ban, and called many technical requirements "problematic or unreasonable." They are seeking flexibility on water system design and noise monitoring. The article also notes that smaller data centers, if appropriately priced for electricity, could potentially lower bills for other customers, according to Harvey Michaels of MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
Everett officials acknowledge the risk of deterring developers but believe the carefully crafted ordinance is a worthwhile gamble to attract a company that needs a data center, rather than simply building a speculative facility. The Boston Globe Editorial Board urges the City Council to proceed with the ordinance’s intent, while reasonably incorporating developer amendments.