Dear Editor,
On September 14 the Wilmington Town Select Board heard a presentation by the Planning Board on a proposed zoning change that would allow data centers to be built in Wilmington. It was decided that 15 days later, on Sept 29th the planning board would hold a public hearing on the proposed zoning change. They also scheduled a special town meeting to vote on the proposed zoning change for Saturday, November 21st. My question is what is the hurry?
I listened to the planning board’s Sept 14th presentation and then attended the Planning Board’s Public hearing. In attendance were 5 or 6 residents and a group of people from the Wilmington Economic Development Committee. The proposal will allow “small data centers” to be built in Ballardvale and Industrial Way. The following are a few questions that were asked of the planning board:
Question: If we do nothing and make no zoning changes, are data centers allowed in Wilmington?
Answer: No. There is no “use category for data centers” therefore one can’t be built in town
Question: Why change the law if we are currently protected?
Answer: Someone could sue us to allow a data center. This bylaw protects us by only allowing small data centers.
Question: Has anyone approached any member of the planning board with a proposal for a possible data center.
Answer: No one answered for quite a while and then only 2 did and they said “no, no”.
Question: Why not leave the zoning as is and deal with the possibility of someone trying to sue us when it happens? You just said no one is interested in our town now, but they will be when you open the gates.
Answer: Well, that is one opinion, but we disagree.
If anyone else agrees with me that this is not the best time to be opening the doors to data centers in Wilmington, please attend the Special Town Meeting on Saturday, Nov 21st at 9:00 am and vote NOT to change our current zoning to allow data centers.
A few additional key pieces of information:
#1) This “small data center” can use as much electricity as 2,000 homes. (prices rise)
#2) Even “small data centers” consume large amounts of water per day for cooling.
(No drought problems here)
#3) Cooling systems discharge waste heat, raising local temperatures and increasing AC bills.
#4) They say that noise, water and electricity will be regulated. Who is enforcing those regulations? Enforcement requires staff, time and money.
Thank You,
Rita Wakefield
Like Wilmington Apple on Facebook. Follow Wilmington Apple on Twitter. Follow Wilmington Apple on Instagram. Subscribe to Wilmington Apple’s daily email newsletter HERE. Got a comment, question, photo, press release, or news tip? Email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com.
