Data Center Zoning Moratorium

At a glance

• What: Caron, Planning Board chair, asked to amend Chapter 181 of the Zoning Code to add a temporary moratorium on large-scale data centers (petition 160-26).
• Where it stands: On October 6 Legislative Affairs reported and the Council referred it to the Planning Board for a public hearing, 11-0.
• Next: Planning Board public hearing; date not in the minutes.

Moved together with the Battery Storage Zoning Moratorium petition.

Sources

• City Council minutes, October 6, 2026: https://www.fitchburgma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10062026-5418
• City Council minutes, September 15, 2026: https://www.fitchburgma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09152026-5385

State context

State-level rules, including Executive Order 658 and a statewide list of local moratoriums and bylaws, are on Massachusetts Data Center Policy.

Log

2026-10-06 - City Council

Report accepted; petition referred to the Planning Board for a public hearing, 11-0.

2026-09-15 - City Council

Referred to Legislative Affairs.