The Salem, Massachusetts City Council is scheduled to consider a zoning ordinance amendment that would add a formal definition of “Data Center” to the city’s code, according to the published agenda for the council’s Sept. 9, 2026 meeting.
The proposed amendment would insert the new definition into Section 10.0 Definitions of the zoning ordinance, placing it immediately after the existing definition for “COOP,” according to the agenda text. The agenda describes a data center as “a facility, or portion thereof, primarily designed or used to house computer servers and related information technology infrastructure for the stor[age]” of data, according to the published document.
The matter is relevant to residents because it would establish, for the first time in the zoning code, an official definition determining what qualifies as a data center for regulatory purposes in Salem, according to the agenda.
- Meeting date: Sept. 9, 2026
- Body: Salem, MA City Council
- Agenda item: Amendment to Section 10.0 Definitions
- Action: Inserting a new “Data Center” definition after the “COOP” definition
- Type: Council Vote, according to the meeting record
Next, the City Council is scheduled to take up the item at its Sept. 9, 2026 meeting, according to the published agenda. The agenda does not indicate the outcome of any vote, as the meeting has not yet occurred.
Residents can review the full agenda and supporting materials at the link provided by the City of Salem, and may attend the Sept. 9, 2026 meeting in person to observe the proceedings or submit public comment, according to standard council meeting procedures referenced in the agenda posting.
Official source: the published record