Aug 5, 2026BoardMeeting
BoardNewburyport Planning Board Joint Public Hearing
The Board held a joint public hearing to discuss Ordinance 226, which concerns the regulation of data centers and their potential impact on the city's water supply. The primary focus of the meeting was the review of proposed zoning amendments to residential height restrictions. Officials discussed reducing the default building height allowance from 35 feet to 25 feet to maintain neighborhood character and mitigate the impact of new, oversized residential developments following recent changes in state zoning legislation. The discussion included presentations on specific residential examples, debates over building heights, and the need for further studies on lot sizes and zoning regulations.