On the agenda: Salem meeting — Data Center (Sep 9)

CITY OF SALEM
SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
JOINT PUBLIC HEARING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING BOARD

The Salem City Council will hold a Joint Public Meeting with the Planning Board in-person in the City
Council Chambers, City Hall, 93 Washington Street, 2nd floor, Salem, MA on Wednesday, September 9,
2026 at 6:00 PM. in accordance with Chapter 40A, Section 5, of the Massachusetts General Laws for
the purpose of discussing two (2) different proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments relative to Data
Centers and Parking Spaces, Parking and Loading and Development Standards.
In person shall be the primary method of public access to such meetings. A secondary method of public
access may be provided, if technologically feasible through Salem Access Television, and/or remotely
through zoom. Please see below.
The public hearing is to provide interested parties with an opportunity to comment on these Zoning
Amendments. The complete text of this zoning ordinance amendment is available for inspection below,
in the back-up documentation, at the City Clerk’s office, 93 Washington Street, Salem or the Planning
Department, City Hall Annex, 98 Washington Street, Salem (during normal working hours).
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89819826807?pwd=kE6cAWbbLJmk2h6Sjx6huj7tUOD1UO.
Password: 705467
Go to the website link: https://zoom.us/join. Enter meeting/webinar ID# 898 1982 6807 as directed on
the webpage and click “Join.” Follow the on- screen instructions to join the meeting.
Participants can dial a toll-free phone number at 888-475-4499 or 877-853-5257 (Toll Free) to join the
meeting. When prompted, enter meeting/webinar ID # 898 1982 6807 and follow the instructions to join
the meeting.
The public may also watch the meeting live on SATV on Channel 22.
Depends on size and quantity of zoning ordinance if in full or summarized
Below are summaries of each zoning ordinance amendments.
SUMMARY
1st Zoning Ordinance:
Section I. Section 3.1 Table of Principal and Accessory Use Regulations of the City of Salem Zoning
Ordinance is hereby amended by adding in Section D Industrial Uses, after “Contractor’s yard;
landscaping business”, the following, shown in underlined and italics:

CITY OF SALEM
SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
JOINT PUBLIC HEARING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING BOARD
Section II. Section 10.0 Definitions is hereby amended by inserting the following definition after the
definition for “COOP”:
Data Center: A facility, or portion thereof, primarily designed or used to house computer servers and
related information technology infrastructure for the storage, processing, management, or transmission
of electronic data. A Data Center may include, but is not limited to, server racks, data storage systems,
cooling systems, power conditioning equipment, substations, uninterruptible power supplies, backup
generators, telecommunications equipment, security systems, and associated mechanical and electrical
infrastructure. For purposes of this ordinance, a Data Center shall not be considered an Office,
Warehouse, Manufacturing, or Research use. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Data
Centers are prohibited in each and every underlying district, overlay district and special district of this
Ordinance.
Section III. This Ordinance shall take effect as provided by City Charter
2nd Zoning Ordinance
Section I. Amend Section 5.1.8 Table of Required Parking Spaces by
a. Deleting the phrase "Dwellings, two-family;” in the first row of the table
B. Adding to the phrase "Dwellings, two-family;” to the second row of the table, so it reads:
Use
Required
Parking
Dwellings, None
twofamily;
Dwellings,
multifamily
Section II. Amend Section 6.11.8 Parking and Loading
a. Inserting the phrase "and two-family dwelling units" after “For multifamily dwelling units” at the
beginning of the section.
Section III. Amend Section 8.7.8.4 Development Standards. Parking Standards Section B.
Parking Ratios, section i by inserting the phrase "and two-family dwellings" after “For multifamily
dwellings”
Section IV. This Ordinance shall take effect as provided by City Charter.
The complete text of the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinances is on file and available for
inspection during regular business hours at the office of the City Clerk, Room 1, City Hall, 93
Washington Street, Salem, MA or the Department of Planning & Community Development, 2nd floor,
City Hall Annex, 98 Washington Street, Salem, MA.
ATTEST:

MAUREEN ELIZABETH FISHER
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
KIRT RIEDER
PLANNING BOARD CHAIR

“Persons requiring auxiliary aids and services for effective communication such as sign language
interpreter, an assistive listening device, or print material in digital format or a reasonable modification in
programs, services, policies, or activities, may contact the City of Salem ADA Coordinator at (978-6195630) as soon as possible and no less than 2 business days before the meeting, program, or

CITY OF SALEM
SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
JOINT PUBLIC HEARING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING BOARD
event.”

“Know Your Rights Under the Open Meeting Law, M.G.L. c. 30A ss. 18-25, and
City Ordinance Sections 2-2028 through 2-2033.”
A Joint Public Hearing of the Salem City Council and the Planning Board was held in-person in the City
Council Chambers, City Hall, 93 Washington Street, 2nd floor, Salem, MA on Wednesday, September 9,
2026 at 6:00 PM in accordance with Chapter 40A, Section 5, of the Massachusetts General Laws for the
purpose of discussing proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments relative to Data Centers and Parking
Spaces, Parking and Loading and Development Standards.
Notice of this hearing was posted on August 18, 2026, at 11:15 AM. This meeting was advertised in the
Salem News on 8/26/2026 & 9/2/2026.
Absent were:
Counci President Alice Merkl presiding.
The following Planning Board Members were present:
Also, in attendance were:
#385 Ordinance Amending a Zoning Ordinance Relative to Data Centers
APPEARING IN FAVOR:

APPEARING IN OPPOSITION:

Councillor Varela Moved that the public hearing be closed

Voted

Councillor Varela Moved that the matter be referred to the Planning Board for their Voted
recommendation

CITY OF SALEM
SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
JOINT PUBLIC HEARING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING BOARD

#387 Ordinance Amending Zoning Relative to Parking Spaces, Parking and Loading, and Development
Standards
APPEARING IN FAVOR:

APPEARING IN OPPOSITION:

Councillor King moved that the Public Hearing be Closed
.
Voted
Councillor King moved that the matter be referred to the Planning Board for their
recommendation.
Voted

On the motion of Councillor Hapworth the meeting adjourned at

P.M.