Salem City Council Passes Ban On Data Centers In Witch City

SALEM, MA — The Salem City Council passed its zoning ordinance ban on data centers within the Witch City on second passage Thursday night.

The final vote included amendments to the first passage of the ban that eliminated the 2-megawatt threshold and added a definition of data centers intended to allow for universities and medical facilities to create infrastructure that supports their operations, while outlawing the chance that a company could open a facility for the sole purpose of data storage.

• MA Leaders Sound Alarm Over Surging AI Powers That Could 'Kill Us All'

"There is always interpretation inside of zoning," Councilor Ty Hapworth said. "But I think we have made our intent very, very clear. In any situation where this zoning was challenged, it would be very clear what the city of Salem has decided to do here.

"We can sit here all night and think about any potential loophole that someone could potentially think about. But those things would get knocked down. They would not survive the ZBA or even legal challenges. What we've built here is clear in what our intent is, and if we want to open this up later and talk about a more comprehensive data center ordinance, we certainly can."

• MA Governor's Order Makes Data Centers Subject To Local Approval

Mayor Dominick Pangallo proposed the ban via a zoning ordinance in response to an attempt to put what the city considered a data center in the new Shetland Park development. That application was denied on appeal by the Zoning Board, but Pangallo looked for the new ordinance to strengthen the city's ability for a permit denial to survive a court challenge.

He likened the proliferation of data centers, and the resources they draw from the city and its residents, to some of the detrimental industries once common across the North Shore.

"For centuries, Salem has borne the brunt of an industrial legacy handed down from generation to generation," Pangallo said. "Tanneries and grease works. Coal power plants and sewage treatment facilities. Gas tanks and switchyards.

"I do not believe we should volunteer ourselves or the generations of Salem residents who will follow us to continue that legacy."

• Second North Shore City Mayor Proposes Data Center Ban

Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill proposed a similar one-year moratorium on data centers in that city that will come before the City Council and Planning Board in a public forum on Nov. 9.

More on Patch:

• Mayor Calls For Data Center Ban In North Shore City