Lowell Will Host Data Center Zoning Meeting October 7
The city will present two potential regulatory options for future data center growth at the Lowell Senior Center.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Data Centers
Live Poll
Should your local government place stricter zoning limits on the construction of new data centers?
Lowell officials are scheduled to host a community engagement event on October 7, 2026, to solicit resident feedback regarding potential zoning updates. The city is currently drafting two options that would either restrict new data center capacity to 15 MW or prohibit them entirely.
Why it matters
The city initiated a 360-day moratorium on new or expanded data centers in March 2026 to address rising concerns over noise, buffer zones, and utility impacts. Updating the 20-year-old zoning code aims to better manage local neighborhood opposition while balancing infrastructure growth.
The existing site at the former Prince Pasta plant utilizes 23 diesel-powered backup generators and represents a $650 million investment. The facility received a $77 million tax break after Markley Lowell purchased the site for $4 million in 2015.
The players
Markley Lowell
This technology infrastructure firm operates a major data center campus located at the former Prince Pasta plant site.
Lowell Department of Planning and Development
This municipal agency manages city zoning updates and is coordinating the upcoming community engagement process.
The details
The Department of Planning and Development will facilitate breakout sessions at the upcoming meeting to gather public input from residents. While new regulations are being weighed, Markley Lowell’s current developments and its 500 existing clients will remain grandfathered under previous agreements.
Timeline
2015: Markley Group purchased the former Prince Pasta plant.
March 2026: City Council approved a 360-day data center moratorium.
June 2026: A public forum on data centers occurred.
September 22, 2026: City Council meeting regarding data center zoning.
October 7, 2026: Community engagement event at Lowell Senior Center.
Roadmap
This regulatory shift follows the 360-day moratorium, reflecting a broader trend of municipal authorities tightening oversight of industrial data center infrastructure. The move positions Lowell to move beyond its 20-year-old zoning code to address modern concerns about power usage and neighborhood impacts.
Residents attending the October 7 meeting can directly influence how the city regulates future industrial noise and utility expansion near the Sacred Heart neighborhood. These zoning choices will determine whether future data centers are allowed to expand or if the city will implement strict power caps to protect local quality of life.
The takeaway
The upcoming zoning update reflects the ongoing tension between municipal industrial expansion and the maintenance of neighborhood quality of life. Residents should prepare to review the two regulatory paths to understand how future infrastructure growth may be limited in their immediate vicinity.
What happens next
The Department of Planning and Development will present the final regulatory options to the City Council for potential adoption in mid-October 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local infrastructure trends in the Data Centers section.
Live Poll
Should your local government place stricter zoning limits on the construction of new data centers?
