The Malden Planning Board tackled a packed agenda on June 10, addressing proactive zoning regulations for data centers and unanimously moving a long-delayed retail cannabis project one step closer to opening its doors.
In a joint hearing with the City Council Rules and Ordinance Committee, the board unanimously supported a one-year moratorium and a citywide ban on standalone data centers. The measure is designed to give the city time to study the environmental and infrastructure impacts of data centers and draft appropriate zoning ordinances.
Councilor Ari Taylor, a co-sponsor of the City Council’s proposal, stressed the need for legislation to protect the city’s power grid and residents from the negative impacts seen in other communities, like Everett and Lowell…