Hallowell to consider 180-day data-center moratorium draft

Hallowell’s City Council is scheduled to consider a draft ordinance that would pause certain data-center applications and related city approvals for 180 days if enacted. The proposal is listed for a first reading at the council’s 6 p.m. meeting on Oct. 13, 2026.

As of 9:07 a.m. EDT that day, the meeting had not occurred. The agenda includes a motion to approve the first reading, but no council action had taken place and the draft was not in effect. The meeting is scheduled in person at City Hall; the agenda says Zoom will not be available.

Which applications the draft would cover

The City of Hallowell’s meeting documents include the proposed ordinance. It defines covered data-storage and data-center facilities as standalone sites or facilities within larger buildings that primarily contain electronic equipment used to process, store or transmit digital information, along with environmental-control equipment.

As written, the proposal applies to specified applications that are not deemed complete and have not received at least one substantive Planning Board review before the applicable date. It also addresses new or expanded facilities. During the proposed moratorium, city officials and agencies would be barred from accepting, processing, approving, denying or otherwise acting on covered applications for licenses, building permits or other planning, zoning or land-use approvals.

The draft uses the term “Applicable Date” in its applicability provision but does not define it in the text. The moratorium would run for 180 days from its effective date, unless the council extends, repeals or modifies it.

Standards cited in the proposal

The draft says Hallowell’s land-use ordinance lacks performance standards specific to data centers. It cites environmental and visual concerns, siting and related issues as reasons to allow time to develop standards and consider amendments to the city’s comprehensive plan. Those are rationales stated in the proposal, not findings that particular impacts have occurred.

If enacted, the pause could affect applicants and developers seeking covered facilities in Hallowell by temporarily halting specified city reviews and approvals. The draft says the measure would take effect if enacted; the scheduled first reading alone would not put it into effect.