Salem residents who are watching the city’s effort to regulate artificial‑intelligence data centers received a schedule change on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. The Salem City Council, which was set to deliberate and vote that night on whether the city’s zoning code permits AI data centers, announced the meeting has been moved to Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026.
According to city spokesperson Rob Layne, the rescheduling was necessary because the city’s email system, Microsoft Outlook, experienced an outage that prevented residents from receiving the public‑notice email and submitting their testimony on time. Layne said the council wants to ensure that all interested parties have a fair opportunity to comment before the vote.
The public notice, first published on Nov. 12, 2026, is available for download as a PDF (93 KB) on the Salem Reporter website. The notice outlines the proposed changes to the zoning code that would address the siting, size, and operational requirements of AI data centers within city limits.
Residents who wish to provide written testimony must do so by 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Submissions can be sent to the city’s official email address or delivered in person at City Hall, according to the notice. The deadline ensures the council has sufficient time to review all comments before the rescheduled deliberation.The council’s decision on the data‑center code is significant for Salem’s economic development and infrastructure planning. Proponents argue that clear regulations will attract high‑tech investment while protecting community resources, whereas opponents raise concerns about energy use and land‑use impacts. The council’s upcoming vote will determine whether the proposed zoning amendments move forward.
What’s next: The Salem City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on the AI data‑center zoning amendments on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026. Residents can attend the meeting in person at City Hall or watch the live stream, as indicated in the public‑notice PDF. Additional information and updates will be posted on the city’s website and through local news outlets.
Sources: salemreporter.com, salemreporter.com
