Westfield council supports moratorium to halt new data centers
Westfield City Council unanimously passed a temporary one-year moratorium on new data centers after a public hearing. The moratorium aims to allow time for the Natural Resources Committee to research environmental, public health, and infrastructure impacts to develop a permanent zoning ordinance. An existing data center project by Servistar with an approved permit is not retroactively affected.
Westfield, Massachusetts City Council unanimously enacted a temporary one-year moratorium on new data center developments on June 18, following a well-attended public hearing. The decision, supported by the Planning Board's recommendation, aims to provide the Natural Resources Committee with time to research the environmental, public health, and infrastructure impacts of data centers to develop a permanent zoning ordinance. Councilor Kristen Mello, chair of the Natural Resources Committee, highlighted Westfield's environmental vulnerabilities, including PFAS-contaminated water and air pollution, and emphasized the need for scientific review to ensure safe siting and mitigation.
During the public hearing, most residents favored the moratorium. Paul Corey, representing the Servistar Data Center project, sought clarification on its impact. City Planner Jay Vinskey confirmed that the moratorium would not retroactively affect Servistar's existing special permit for Phase 1, granted in October 2021 and extended to October 2026, though the project still requires wetlands permits. Residents also questioned the possibility of revoking permits under Massachusetts General Law. The council's unanimous vote for the moratorium, scheduled for a second reading in July, reflects strong public sentiment for a pause on new data center projects to protect residents' health and the environment.