On the agenda: Lowell meeting — Data Center (Mar 2)

City of Lowell - Planning Board
Planning Board Agenda
March 2, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

Meetings will be held in the City Council Chambers at 375 Merrimack
Street, Lowell MA 01852 with public welcome and by using remote participation as
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I.

Minutes for Approval
2/2/2026

II. Continued Business

Site Plan Review - 558 Gorham Street, 01852
The Lowell Planning Board will hold a public hearing to hear all interested persons relative to an
application by NLK Homes LLC to construct one triplex and one duplex (a total of 5 units) at 558
Gorham Street. The subject property is located in the Urban Mixed Use (UMU) zoning district.
The proposal requires Site Plan Review per Section 11.4.2 of the Lowell Zoning Ordinance for a
development with more than three units, and Special Permit approval per Section 11.3.2 for
four to six dwelling units on a single lot in the UMU zone.
III. New Business

Public Shade Tree Hearing – 375 Merrimack Street and 652 Merrimack Street, 01852
In Accordance with MGL Ch. 87.5 and the Chapter 260 of the Lowell Code of Ordinances, the Lowell
Planning Board will hold a public hearing to hear all interested persons about the proposed removal
of nine (9) trees in the vicinity of 375 Merrimack Street with approximate DBHs of 12”, 16”, 6”, 4’”
and 1” and one (1) tree at 652 Merrimack Street with a DBH of 6”. These trees are to be replaced by
twenty-two (22) new trees. The removal of these trees is necessary to provide safer pedestrian
crossings, updated bus stops and shelters, and bicycle infrastructure.

Data Center Moratorium
In accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 40A, Section 5, the Lowell Planning Board will hold a Public
Hearing to hear all interested persons relative to an ordinance to amend “The Code of Ordinances
City of Lowell, Massachusetts,” with respect to Chapter 290, thereof entitled “Lowell Zoning Code”
by amending Article II “Definition” to add a definition for ‘Data Centers’, amending Article VII
“Special Regulations” by inserting a new Section 7.11 creating a 360 day moratorium on the
development of data centers, and amending Article XII “Table of Uses” by adding a ‘Data Centers’
use that is prohibited in all zones.
IV. Other Business
V. Further Comments from Planning Board Members

VI. Adjournment