After a public hearing in which residents raised concerns about water use, heat, electricity costs and community character, the Nottingham Planning Board voted unanimously to send a proposed 12‑month temporary moratorium on data centers to a special town meeting as a warrant article.

Select Board member reported that Nottingham voters approved a moratorium on data centers by what the speaker characterized as over 90% support; the speaker provided a final tally read to the board during the report.

New Hampshire DES engineer Corey Clark told Nottingham’s Select Board all four Patuckaway Lake impoundments are classified 'high hazard' and outlined alternatives — from slope protection to labyrinth spillways, hydraulic gates, and phased raises — with estimated project costs in the multi‑million-dollar range and a proposed drawdown if interim repairs are needed.

Town Administrator Ellen briefed the board on a regional ALS service covering 18 towns (4,325 calls in the service period). She said the service requests a five-year intermunicipal agreement with an initial appropriation of about $15,000 that rises in later years; participation would guarantee a $250 transport rate versus a much higher nonparticipating rate, the administrator said.

The Nottingham Board of Adjustment approved case 26‑009VA on Sept. 15, 2026, allowing conversion of an impervious gravel turnaround to a pervious stormwater infiltration area at a property identified on the application as 70 Bardier Lane (tax map 6333). The applicant presented a DES shoreline permit and engineering work by TF Moran; no public comment was offered.

The select board authorized installation of a point-of-entry treatment system at 259 Stage Road after NHDES-flagged PFAS exceedances; the roughly $9,650 installation and testing will be paid from the Groundwater Protection Expendable Trust Fund (balance ~ $100,000).

Town staff reported repeated cases of scammers emailing professional-looking invoices to applicants immediately after meetings; staff recommended adding warnings to notices of decision, email signatures and website notices and limiting personally identifiable contact info on posted applications.

Planner Blair presented Nottingham’s draft housing chapter (HOP grant) summarizing outreach — 171 survey responses and a 20‑person workshop — and recommendations including diversifying housing stock, mixed use in the town center, and a regulatory audit. The board set a public hearing for Sept. 23.

Jim Hadley presented a draft data‑center ordinance to the planning board, citing noise, energy and groundwater concerns and noting signage at the former USA Springs site indicating a 193,000 sq. ft. facility; board members suggested folding performance‑based nuisance standards into town regulations and reminded voters of a data‑center moratorium vote scheduled for Sept. 8.

Following national interest in data centers and local concerns about resource‑intensive developments, Nottingham’s planning board described a temporary moratorium and an active subcommittee to draft zoning ordinance updates aimed at protecting water and electrical resources and addressing noise and other impacts.

After a packed planning-board meeting and hundreds of written comments, Nottingham officials said this week they will pursue options — including a temporary moratorium and zoning amendments — to limit or regulate data centers following strong local opposition.