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Board directs staff to draft deferral/moratorium language and review zoning for data centers
Summary
Following concerns about water, power and land‑use impacts, commissioners directed staff to draft a deferral/moratorium warrant and review county code language to clarify whether and where data centers should be permitted; the Board also asked staff to incorporate bulk requirements and other zoning considerations into a broader code review.
Commissioners instructed staff on Jan. 15 to prepare language for a deferral or moratorium on new data‑center permits while the county studies potential impacts and code changes.
The motion grew from a broader discussion about large commercial uses that, under current county code, might be filed as warehousing or similar uses. Commissioner Gordon said data centers impose high demands for water and power and can create traffic, visual and environmental impacts. “Data centers are tremendous in what they cost us — water usage, power demands, infrastructure strains, limited jobs, land‑use impact,” he said during administrative open.
County planning staff advised that a formal moratorium requires draft legislation and a public hearing but that the Board can in parallel direct staff to pursue zoning text amendments to define, limit, or channel data‑center development. The Board voted to direct staff to draft a deferral warrant and to review zoning code language, bulk requirements and potential new commercial categories; motion carried by voice vote.
Staff said any moratorium or deferral would not automatically stop current, already‑filed projects unless the legislation explicitly addresses such applications; the Board asked staff to clarify those details in drafting.
The Board scheduled continued discussion in the upcoming work session and asked staff to coordinate with Planning and Zoning on any formal zoning text amendments.
