# City of Salem Data Center Town Hall 3

The City of Salem Data Center Task Force’s third town hall, hosted by Capital Community Media on October 23, 2026, reviewed community feedback and preliminary city code amendments for regulating data centers. No contracts, vendor awards, procurement votes, or spending approvals were identified. The proposed amendments would reduce the zones where data centers are allowed from seven to four; allow facilities under 2 megawatts as permitted uses, and require a public conditional-use process for facilities over 2 and up to 10 megawatts. The proposal also includes a 1,000-foot buffer from specified sensitive uses and requirements addressing noise, water and sewer capacity, cooling systems, and discharges. A public hearing on the code amendments was planned for November 23, with a separate code-interpretation hearing scheduled for November 9; task force recommendations were expected to go to City Council on December 7.

Participants discussed stronger monitoring and enforcement, possible annual licensing and public dashboards, renewable-energy and efficiency requirements, generator use during emergencies, environmental impacts, community benefits, and responsibility for infrastructure repairs and decommissioning. Staff said the proposed land-use standards would not apply to an existing use or a pending application such as the Veris proposal, though separate non-land-use measures might apply. The discussion was advisory and proposals remained under consideration; the city’s data-center moratorium was described as expiring in January, with a possible extension.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Information Technology, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 23, 2026

### Sources
- [City of Salem Data Center Town Hall 3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFnfoZVIN_Y) - Capital Community Media