Planning Board asks Select Board to lead data center talks
The Planning Board voted 5-0 to recommend that the Select Board lead public discussion on regulating data centers. The Oct. 26 hearing began on a draft bylaw that would have prohibited data centers in all districts, which the Select Board asked to withdraw.
Planning Board · Meeting of October 26, 2026
SOUTH HADLEY — The Planning Board voted 5-0 to recommend that the Select Board lead public discussion on regulating data centers. The Oct. 26 hearing began on a draft bylaw that would have prohibited data centers in all districts, which the Select Board asked to withdraw. Staff said Sheld reports the town's total electric use is 29 megawatts, while the governor's Executive Order 658 covers facilities of 25 megawatts or larger.
Under current zoning, a data center would likely be allowed with site plan review in industrial districts, staff said. The motion also seeks a zoning memo and contact with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission about a regional study. The board also released a final $21,600 Skinner Woods stormwater guarantee and approved two reports to Town Meeting.
In the full story:
- Data Center Bylaw Hearing
- Minutes
- Skinner Woods Stormwater Guarantee
- Town Meeting Reports
- Associate Member Application
- Planning and Conservation Department Report
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report: 1,733 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of October 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.
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