A plan to develop a large data center campus on land owned by the Kraft Group in the central Massachusetts community of Sutton is drawing organized resistance from local residents. According to reporting cited from the Boston Business Journal, the proposal envisions 10 data centers on roughly 390 acres, the same site where Kraft Group affiliate Unified Global Packaging Group opened an industrial building in 2023.
Residents said they were made aware of the proposal only one day before a Tuesday meeting of Sutton’s Select Board, where the project was discussed publicly. That short notice became a flashpoint for community frustration, with attendees questioning how long the concept had been under consideration and why broader outreach had not occurred earlier in the process.
During the Select Board meeting, residents raised a range of concerns tied to the contemplated data center campus. Comments from the audience referenced fears about potential noise and bright lights, perceived terrorism risks associated with digital infrastructure facilities, and the possibility that nearby home values could decline if the project proceeds. Many attendees called on board members to reject the proposal outright.
Select Board members responded that the proposal remained in its very early stages and emphasized that no vote on approvals had been scheduled. They stressed that the meeting was intended as an informational session rather than a formal decision point, even as the tone in the room grew more confrontational and some residents pressed for an immediate denial.
Sutton Town Manager Austin Cyganiewicz explained at the meeting that town officials have been working closely with Unified Global Packaging Group for several years on potential development options for the site. That long-running dialogue has now surfaced publicly with the current 10-building data center concept, but the town signaled that any progression toward entitlements or approvals would require additional review and further public discussion.
