Planning board continues debate on Industrial Park bylaw; members press for setbacks and lower thresholds for data centers

The Planning Board on Feb. 23 continued a wide-ranging public hearing on proposed updates to the Industrial Park (IP) zoning bylaw, including new performance standards and the explicit inclusion of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and data centers.

Planner Marnie Houlihan described the draft (02/11/2026) as a modernization: it adds performance standards for noise, vibration, odor and emissions; expands many by-right uses (up to a proposed 75,000 square feet in one draft); and adds special-permit language for data centers while introducing energy facilities into the IP district. She said attorney Bob Buckley, who reviewed the draft as independent counsel, recommended considering a 50,000-square-foot by-right threshold rather than 75,000.

Residents and board members expressed concerns about noise and utility impacts from BESS and data centers and asked the board to consider larger residential setbacks. "There was concern that a setback would only be, you know, 50 feet to 75 feet," Houlihan summarized; several participants proposed 1,000-foot setbacks from abutting residential zones for certain energy facilities.

Board members also debated whether to exclude higher biosafety-level laboratories; one member recommended explicitly excluding BSL-3 and BSL-4 facilities. Multiple members asked staff to request a legal opinion regarding Dover uses (which may limit zoning restrictions) and to refine dimensional standards for data centers and energy facilities.

After discussion the board voted to continue the public hearing to March 9 at 7:00 p.m. to allow time for counsel input, additional drafting on setbacks, and further public comment.