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Council previews data center moratorium and SEPA appeal changes in land use agenda
Summary
Land use committee items to be considered include a moratorium aimed at large data centers, housing opportunity measures and proposed SEPA changes that would remove legislative act appeals from the hearing examiner and send them directly to court.
At the May 18 briefing council members previewed a busy land use agenda focused on data centers and changes to appeals for legislative acts. Council member Frank (land use) said the data center moratorium targets proposed large data centers while smaller existing operations will also be reviewed in situ.
Frank also described proposed SEPA legislation that would remove certain appeals of legislative actions (for example comprehensive plan amendments or rezonings) from the hearing examiner process and instead allow appeal directly to superior court. He said the change would eliminate a procedural layer the council and sponsors view as delaying action but acknowledged questions about unintended consequences and the need for a law department briefing.
Council members asked for examples and legal clarification about whether council actions would be stayed while a case is pending in superior court; Frank said the law department would brief the council and said an executive session might be scheduled for legal discussion.
There were no formal votes at the briefing; items were listed for committee consideration and possible future action.
