Charlestown council approves one-year moratorium on data centers
Charlestown's Common Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data centers and battery storage facilities, following public scrutiny and a recent controversial data center approval. This pause will allow the city to update its zoning ordinances and gather more information. The moratorium comes after the Charlestown Advisory Plan Commission narrowly approved QLEVR's 55,000-square-foot data center proposal, despite community opposition.
Residents packed the Charlestown Arts and Enrichment Center on July 20 as the Advisory Plan Commission reviewed QLEVR's 55,000-square-foot data center proposal. After a contentious meeting marked by public scrutiny and emotional questions, the commission narrowly voted 4-3 to approve the project, concluding it met the city's zoning requirements.
Following this controversial approval and ongoing public uncertainty, the Charlestown Common Council unanimously enacted a one-year moratorium on new data centers and battery storage facilities. This temporary halt aims to provide city officials with time to update the city's Unified Development Ordinance and thoroughly assess the implications of the recently approved data center before considering additional developments.