Northborough Planning Board eyes sharper bylaws for data centers
News ClipCommunity Advocate·Northborough, Worcester County, MA·3/13/2026
The Northborough Planning Board in Massachusetts is looking to establish a definition for "data center" within the town's bylaws, specifying that they are allowed in the Industrial District through a special permit. The proposed bylaw updates would add criteria the board may evaluate, including electrical infrastructure, water supply, noise, air quality, and traffic. The town is reaching out to neighboring Marlborough, which is said to have a "couple" data centers, to see if there have been any concerns.
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Gov: Northborough Planning Board, Marlborough
The Northborough Planning Board is considering updates to the town's bylaws to better regulate data centers. The proposed changes would define "data center" in the bylaws and require a special permit from the Planning Board for data centers in the Industrial District. The new criteria the board could evaluate include electrical infrastructure, water supply, noise, air quality, and traffic. Building Inspector Robert Frederico noted data centers are "power-hogs" for electricity and water. The Planning Board Chair Amy Poretsky said the goal is to have more oversight over data centers, which the town currently has limited ability to regulate.