WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=spNnnaIEQIo

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: spNnnaIEQIo):
- 00:00:11: Article 16: Zoning Bylaw Amendment for Data Centers
- 00:01:49: Article 16 Continued: Data Center Definition, Location, Permits
- 00:06:18: Rationale Behind Pairing Data Centers With Marijuana Overlays
- 00:09:52: Protecting Lakeville; Town Council Review; Questions?
- 00:11:31: Confusion About Overlays; Alleviating Concerns; Support
- 00:12:36: Objections Due to Tax Base; Dangers of Data Centers


Part: 1

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This is article 16 special permit for data centers to see if the town will vote to amend zoning bylaw and zoning map as set set forth below or to take any other action related thereto. The explanation is this article proposes an

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amendment to the Lakeville zoning bylaw to define and regulate data centers as a distinct land use. The existing zoning bylaw does not specifically define data centers. As a result, such facilities could potentially be interpreted as a form of office or similar commercial use

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depending on their configuration. Data centers differ from traditional office uses in that they are primarily infrastructure-based facilities characterized by high electricity demand, mechanical cooling systems, backup power generation, and limited on-site employment. The proposed

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amendment adds a definition for data centers, clarifies that they are not considered office uses, and limits their location to marijuana and data center overlay district by special permit from the planning board. Special permit review would allow the planning board to

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evaluate site specific impacts related to energy demand, water use, noise, air quality, site design, and municipal infrastructure, and to impose certain conditions where appropriate. The intent of the amendment is to provide

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regulatory clarity and ensure that should a data center proposal be submitted in the future, the town has clear standards and review authority in place. This article does not respond to any pending application, nor does it approve or deny any specific project.

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>> Article 16 data centers section 270-2.1 terms defined. The following definition shall be added to section 270-2.1 terms defined in alphabetical order. data center. A facility or portion

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thereof primarily designed or used to house computer servers and related information technology infrastructure for the storage, processing, management or transmission of electronic data. The data center may include but is not

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limited to server racks, data storage systems, cooling systems, power conditioning equipment, substations, uninterruptible power supplies, backup generators, telecommunications equipment, security systems, and

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associated mechanical and electrical infrastructure. The U shall be classified as a data center where either a more than 25% of the gross floor area is devoted to server racks, stationary computing equipment or associated

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mechanical or electrical infrastructure or B. The primary purpose of the facility as determined by the planning board is the housing and operation of computer servers and related infrastructure regardless of floor area allocation.

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For purpose of this of this bylaw, the data center shall not be considered a business or professional office use. Section 270-3.1 zoning districts. The following shall be added to section 270-3

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zoning districts. J. Marijuana and data center overlay district. Section 270-3.2 location of districts. I. The marijuana and data center overlay district shall be compromised of parcels located within

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the town's industrial district as shown on the town's zoning map. Section 270-7.4 special permits. The following shall be added to section 270-7.4 special permits in alphabetical order.

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Data center A. SPGA planning board the marijuana and data center overlay district. B. Data centers shall be prohibited in all other zoning districts. C. All applications for a

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data center special permit shall comply with A section 270-7.4 four special permits and B any regulations establishing additional performance standards as may be adopted

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by the Lakeville planning board and C the planning board may impose conditions necessary to ensure compliance with this section including but not limited to one limits on maximum electrical load, two

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caps on water usage, three noise monitoring or reporting requirements. Four, restrictions on generator testing schedules, and five, phasing tied to demonstrated infrastructure capacity. >> D, 5-year review within 5 years of

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issuance of a data center special permit. The planning board may conduct compliance review limited to evaluation of operational performance, infrastructure impacts, and adherence to approved limits. Following such review, the planning board may A determine the

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permit remains in good standing, b modify conditions to address demonstrated impacts, or c require submission of an amended special permit application where material changes are proposed. Failure to comply with approved limits or reporting

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requirements may constitute grounds for enforcement under section 270-8.1 enforcement of this bylaw. E. Severability. If any provision of this section is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity

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shall not affect the remaining provisions which shall remain in full force and effect. The following to be deleted. Section 270-7.3 planned special purpose district regulations. C. Permitted uses as

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principal activities in the PSP district. Five. Museum Library. So, we do have a map enclosed in the packet. This will be supplied to town meeting as a handout. As you can see, the existing

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marijuana overlay district will now become the marijuana and data center overlay district. >> Mhm. Um, it was brought to the board's attention that in the plan special purpose district there was an allowance for data centers

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which I found surprising when I had looked for data centers under definitions and I didn't see anything. >> It's it's um concerning that they could have just gone in there through >> site plan review only. Yes, they have

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certain things in that plan special per uh purpose district that allows for greater setbacks and minimum lot size. But um if you look at that overlay, it's overlaid over residential, all residential. It's near it's the um

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location of the current Ocean Spray headquarters. I could imagine that would be a diff difficult place to try to see data centers go because there's a lot of land a lot of undeveloped land in that area as well. >> The reason that this board had um

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discussed why we were pairing it with the marijuana overlay is because similarly to marijuana production and growth, they both do require high demands on electricity. We live in a state where you can't grow all winter long without a lot of lights, a lot of

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electricity. They need a lot of water to support their plants. And I know that a lot of filtration and all of that as well. So, it does have high water and power demands uh similarly as the uh data centers would. Also, um I think one

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of the positives for me is knowing that the two areas in town that have the existing marijuana overlay, which will now be the marijuana data center overlay, they are built up. So, in order for a data center to come in, it would

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have to be a redevelopment. >> Yep. >> So, that is uh another key point. And as we read through the uh proposed bylaw under the special permits C, the special

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permit shall comply with B, any regulations establishing additional performance standards as may be adopted by the Lakeville Planning Board. that gives this board the ability to create additional rules and regulations to cover specific items for data centers as

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far as electricity and water demands. Uh that's something that I think we at a future meeting would consider utilizing a consultant once the bylaw is passed to use to uh help us draft a set of rules and regulations specific to data centers. Um because I know a lot of it

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is evolving from we don't have as many in the state yet but I know they're in different parts of the country. We know that they are coming in with NDAs non-disclosure agreements so that um where they're going are not prepared. They don't know what it's what it is

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that's coming until it's too late. >> That gives us the ability to at least tailor some specific reg regulations for data centers in the future without going back to te town meeting. >> Right. Well, this is great and thank you for your hard work and putting this

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together. I mean, it it's going to be the catalyst of ensuring that, you know, Lakeville is protected from some of these data centers. Um, I know that it's either Lawrence or Lel is either getting one or in the process of getting one and

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they're currently having a lot of struggles right now with the scope and the size of that data center going in and you you hear about a lot of challenges with these and >> this protective measure I think protects the future of Lakeville. So, thank you.

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>> Thank you, Dan. I know it was just from watching a select board meeting recently, it was brought up that there are other areas where marijuana overlays still exist, but it hasn't been changed to marijuana and data center overlay. I guess we can check with town council to see if that has to be changed or if it

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can exist in its own space because marijuana specific and that so I'm not sure. >> So speaking of council, does this have to go back to council for review before >> so >> or are we good? So, I had sent over the original draft. Yep.

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>> Uh, they reviewed it. They sent it back and they said, you know, this this works. They gave us the language to use for that um item that I just read about special permits so that we can establish those additional rules and regulations at a later time. But as they go through the whole warrant, they will review all

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of um >> we'll have some proposed >> bylaws. Great. >> So, if there's anything else hope, you know, they'll they'll pick it up at that point. >> Very good. Anyone in our audience have any questions, comments, concerns? >> No. >> So, that being said, we close a hearing

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now or >> Well, did you have anything else, Donna? Because I know you've been attending some meetings. So, was there anything else that came up? >> No, just nothing new that I hadn't shared in the past. I I believe that there is support for it. I do believe that, you know, it's a it's something

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new. So there might be some questions and a little bit of confusion about how um especially in an overlay district with another overlay like the marijuana and the data center. >> Um >> you mean at town meeting or >> Yeah. Like you know but we'll be there

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to >> but the good thing is Andrew had addressed it the other night saying town council did review it said it's okay. Yes. So hopefully that one >> that was the other piece too because not only did you have town council check it beforehand, but then when it became a

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question again, I think Andrew ran it by town council to make sure and alleviate. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> The thing one of the objections you may have is is people saying, well, you know, it's it's a industrial use, so it helps the tax

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base. And there may be somebody that says, well, you know, we should permit permit it in more areas so that we can >> Well, I I hope that people are aware enough to know the dangers of data centers because the the strain on water

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infrastructures, >> electricity demand that causes other >> everyone's price of electricity to go up. the yeah the electrical demand uh would be >> and and that would probably I would think would be uh

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>> a a problem for locating one here anyhow >> correct >> because we really don't have the power infrastructure >> right but just in case um >> I yeah I agree >> safer than sorry right no I I I I do agree Okay.