A massive data center development proposed in Sutton could bring nearly $28 million a year in property tax revenue to the Massachusetts town, but the project is already drawing concerns from residents about its potential impact on their community.
The proposal calls for a 10-building data center campus off Boston and Providence roads. Each building would be roughly 250,000 square feet, bringing the development to approximately 2.5 million square feet at full build-out — the equivalent of about 43 football fields of floor space.
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The project is associated with the Kraft Group and Unified Global Packaging Group, which owns the property.
The development could represent approximately $16.75 billion in <a href="https://bitcomme.com/is-lower-cost-shipping-altering-the-investment-case-for-ebay-ebay/” title=”Is Lower Cost Shipping Altering The Investment Case For eBay (EBAY)?”>investment and require about 900 megawatts of electricity at full build-out, according to the town’s preliminary review.
That amount of power would put the proposal among the larger data center developments being planned nationwide.
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For Sutton, the financial implications could be significant.
Town projections estimate the first two buildings could generate about $10.4 million in annual property taxes by fiscal year 2031.
Once all 10 buildings are assessed, the town estimates annual property tax revenue could reach approximately $27.8 million by fiscal year 2035.
The town’s financial modeling also predicts that the average single-family homeowner could pay approximately $5,800 less annually by fiscal year 2035 than under the town’s projected tax bills without the development.
The facility, formerly a Prince spaghetti factory, has long received criticism from residents.
The possibility of financial relief comes as Sutton projects a structural budget deficit that could grow to approximately $9.1 million by fiscal year 2033 without corrective action.
But some residents say the potential financial benefits do not outweigh their concerns.
Neighbors raised questions Tuesday about noise, water and electricity use, generators, traffic and potential costs for municipal services. The town’s review identifies several of those issues as areas requiring further study, including water supply, wastewater, noise, lighting, traffic and emergency response.
“This is just the very, very beginning of this,” Jonathan Anderson, chair of the Sutton Select Board, told residents.
No final approval has been granted. Town officials expect additional technical review and negotiations over zoning regulations and a community benefits agreement.
A zoning change would require a Planning Board hearing and approval by a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting.
Residents made clear Tuesday that scrutiny of the proposal is just beginning.
“I have a 3-year-old grandson,” longtime resident Mario Giamie told NBC10 Boston. “And I’m not going to subject him to this if I can fight it, and I will fight it.”
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