MINUTES
EXETER TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2026
The Special Meeting of the Exeter Town Council was called to order on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., in the JR/SR High School Auditorium, 930 Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich, Rhode Island.
ROLL CALL: Diane Bampton Allen, Present
Raymond A. Morrissey, Jr. Present
Jamie S. Schiffer Present
Joseph Turner Present
Calvin Ellis Absent (ILL)
ALSO PRESENT: Kenneth G. Findlay, Town Administrator
Kenneth Sylvia, Solicitor
Patricia L. Whitford, Interim Town Clerk
PUBLIC Hearing:
Motion made by Ms. Allen to open Public Hearing on the proposed Amendments to Exeter Code of Ordinances as presented under A.B.C. Seconded by Mr. Turner and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Ms. Allen called on Mr. DePasquale Town Panner- Mr. DePasquale explained the different amendments.
Regarding Amendment A, underground water overlay on the Zoning Use Table, single-family structures were erroneously given an “N,” meaning they are not allowed in a ground water overlay. That was a typographical error. They are allowed. That designation will change to a “Y” for yes, permitted.
Regarding Amendment B, definitions for data centers and incinerator, pyrolysis, and gasification facilities
Mr. DePasquale explained these are for administration procedures and definitions in the ordinance.
Regarding Amendment C, three uses will be added to the Zoning Use Table: data centers; incinerator, pyrolysis or gasification facilities; sludge incinerators; and asphalt plants. They will be prohibited.
These uses would harm the Town and could make an effect on the drinking water.
Ms. Allen called on the public to speak if they have signed the sheet to speak.
Mark Lyles: Mr. Lyes spoke in regards to the Town taxes and the fact of the taxes increase every year
he states we do need tax revenue.
Asa Davis- Mr. Davis spoke in regards to step in the right direction to correct the building in the ground water overlay district, there are still 18 more things to fix that are blank. Data Centers are something that we all need.
Myrna George – Ms. George spoke in regards our watershed is the best in the State we can’t do anything to harm the watershed.
Susan Bume- clean water is what we depend on.
Vicki Wilson- spoke about moratorium and rural character of the Town.
Megan Cotter-water issues have taken place across the State she is grateful the Council and Planner is trying to protect our water.
Gregg Allen- spoke in regards to looking over the zoning ordinance and work with the people in the town
small business will not hurt the town.
Motion made by Mr. Morrissey to close the public hearing: Seconded by Ms. Allen to close the Public Hearing and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Motion made by Ms. Allen to accept the change in ARTICLE II. ARTICLE II -- ZONING DISTRICT USE REGULATIONS SECTION 2.4 -- ZONING USE TABLE SECTION 2.4.1 –
USE CATEGORY SECTION 2.4.1.1 – SINGLE-FAMILY STRUCTURES – GROUND WATER OVERLAY ZONE; Seconded by Mr. Schiffer, Discussion CORRECTION OF TRANSCRIPTION ERROR TO ACCURATELY RESTORE PERMITTED STATUS OF SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS WITHIN GROUNDWATER OVERLAY DISTRICT
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Ms. Allen made a motion to amend SECTION 1.2.25 – DATA CENTERS add the following definition; seconded by Mr. Morrissey; voted unanimously in the affirmative.
DATA CENTER: A building, structure, facility, campus, or group of buildings, structures,
or facilities located on a single site or contiguous sites that is primarily used for the
storage, processing, management, transmission, or distribution of digital data or
computing services through computer servers, data storage systems, networking
equipment, and other electronic equipment and associated mechanical, electrical,
cooling, and backup power systems.
The term includes colocation facilities, cloud computing facilities, artificial
intelligence computing facilities, enterprise computing facilities, edge computing facilities, and other similar high-density computing operations, including associated
electrical, backup power, cooling, water supply, and other infrastructure necessary to
support such operations.
Multiple buildings or phases operated as part of a coordinated computing operation
shall be considered a single data center use. The term does not include server rooms,
network closets, telecommunications equipment, or similar information-technology
infrastructure that is accessory and subordinate to another permitted principal use and
intended solely to support on-site operations.
A data center shall be considered a distinct principal use and shall not be classified as
an office, warehouse, manufacturing, research and testing, or other use unless expressly identified in the Zoning Uses Table.
Ms. Allen made a motion to accept the Definitions of ARTICLE I ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES, SECTION 1.2 – DEFINITIONS SECTION 1.2.47 – INCINERATION, PYROLYSIS, OR GASIFICATION FACILITY Seconded by Mr. Morrissey and voted unanimously in the affirmative
Motion made by Ms. Allen to accept ARTICLE II – ZONING DISTRICT USE REGULATIONS
SECTION 2.4 – ZONING USE TABLE SECTION 2.4.1 – USE CATEGORY ADD SECTION 2.4.1.79 – DATA CENTER SECTION 2.4.1.80 – INCINERATOR, PYROLYSIS, OR GASIFICATION FACILITY, SLUDGE INCINERATOR SECTION 2.4.1.81 – ASPHALT PLANT
Ms. Allen read into the record the proposed amendments to the Exeter Zoning Ordinance are intended to add necessary definitions, correct a scrivener’s error in the Zoning use Table, and establish prohibited land uses consistent with the goals, policies, and objective of the Exeter 2044 Comprehensive Plan.
Ms. Allen also explained in the future ordinances can be amended if needed.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to adjourn; seconded by Mr. Schiffer; and voted unanimously
in the affirmative.
The Special Meeting was adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia L. Whitford
Interim Town Clerk
Approved: