The board’s decision to propose a two-year moratorium on data centers emerged as a primary focus of the meeting. The moratorium aims to allow the town to address community concerns and develop specific regulations for data centers, which are currently not covered in the town’s uses table. The proposal for the moratorium seeks to prevent rushed decisions and provide a buffer period to observe how other regions handle these rapidly evolving developments. A board member suggested that this approach would likely be well-received at the upcoming town meeting, anticipating a “near unanimous” vote in favor of the moratorium.

The discussion about data centers was not just about the moratorium itself but also touched on broader implications for town planning. Concerns about noise and other environmental impacts were raised, and the need to define what constitutes a data center was emphasized to avoid confusion in the future. This cautious approach mirrors the town’s strategy with solar energy projects, where state mandates have limited local control.

In conjunction with the data center moratorium, the board explored adjustments to industrial zone regulations. Currently, building height is capped at 50 feet, but there was a proposal to increase this limit to between 60 and 75 feet, which could maximize land use and potentially enhance financial outcomes for the town. A member noted that buildings over 70 feet might be classified as high-rises under Massachusetts building codes, prompting the board to seek clarity from the building inspector. Additionally, a proposal to increase lot coverage from the current 33% in industrial zones was discussed, comparing it to higher limits in other zones, such as 75% in VCC and 50% in VC. The board recognized the need for a visual presentation to effectively communicate these changes at the town meeting.

The meeting also addressed a contaminated site on Elm Street, owned by a holding company managed by a law firm. The site, previously worked on by the Army Corps of Engineers, had sections deemed clean, and plans are underway to develop a research and development facility there. The proposal includes two buildings, each about 60 by 50 feet, and aims to separate testing areas from machining operations. Given the environmental history of the site, the project faces challenges such as the lack of sewer access, although a water line project is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

In other developments, the board discussed restructuring the town’s water and sewer management by eliminating the water and sewer commission, transferring responsibilities to the Department of Public Works (DPW).

The importance of stormwater peer reviews was highlighted to ensure adherence to these standards, even for projects not under conservation department jurisdiction.