Rochester Weighs Data Center Limits | Concord News

Concord News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 20, 2026 · 1m

Rochester is poised to make a bold move on data centers—with a new ordinance designed to steer them away from residential neighborhoods, not ban them outright. After the Planning Board gave its approval, the real test comes September 1st when City Council votes. Residents flooded the council meeting with loud opposition, making their concerns impossible to ignore. Mayor Chuck Grassie agrees—banning data centers isn’t feasible, so the city’s strategy is to make locations unattractive. With no current projects in the pipeline, this is a proactive effort to shape future development while…