Zoning Board denies data center permit appeal at Shetland Park
Salem Zoning Board rejected data center permit appeal at Shetland Park. The board unanimously denied Prime Group Shetland Park's petition to reinstate a revoked building permit for an expanded low-latency inference computing facility on a 0-5 vote, determining the use does not qualify as permitted
Zoning Board of Appeals · Meeting of September 16, 2026
Salem Zoning Board rejected data center permit appeal at Shetland Park. The board unanimously denied Prime Group Shetland Park's petition to reinstate a revoked building permit for an expanded low-latency inference computing facility on a 0-5 vote, determining the use does not qualify as permitted office space. Board Chair Nina Vyedin and members questioned whether the scaled-up proposal constituted an impermissible data center despite the applicant's characterization as rapid-response computing infrastructure.
The board also approved three other petitions: fence variances at 56 Highland Avenue (4-1), a garage-with-ADU variance at 22 Vista Avenue (unanimous), and a Special Permit at 8 Conners Road (unanimous).
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Source: the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting of September 16, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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