Staff recommends code review or narrow moratorium options for data centers; no applications yet in city

Community and Economic Development Director Mona Davis presented an informational briefing on data centers and zoning at the June 2 Finance & Administration Committee meeting, saying the city has received no pre-application contact for data-center development. "I want to start by telling you that there have been no inquiries to the city of Snowqualami around this type of use or development of a data center," Davis said.

Davis reviewed current municipal zoning and the future land-use map: under present Snoqualmie municipal code, data centers are generally prohibited except in Office Park and Planned Commercial Industrial (PCI), where a conditional-use permitting process would be required. She noted that land in the city’s annexation area is still under King County jurisdiction until annexation occurs.

Staff presented three options for council direction: A) leave the code unchanged; B) ask the Planning Commission to review potential code amendments and return recommendations; or C) direct the Planning Commission review and concurrently evaluate whether an interim moratorium should be imposed during the review period. Davis emphasized she did not mean to raise alarm—staff have not seen any imminent application—but recommended being proactive given recent applications and moratoria in nearby jurisdictions.

Council members raised concerns about timing and resource diversion from other priorities (notably ongoing battery-storage permit work) and about how vesting works if applications are filed. City Attorney Dina Burke summarized moratorium procedure and timing: a moratorium typically requires a public hearing within 60 days, commonly lasts about six months in Washington (extensions are possible), and starts a statutory clock that commits staff resources to a work plan. Director Davis added that a complete land-use application vests at the point the city issues a completeness determination (generally after a 28-day review for completeness).

Several council members said they preferred bringing the matter to the full council for discussion rather than deciding the scope at the committee level; staff agreed to return on Monday with a proposed work plan, options and an estimate of likely staff commitment and costs. No moratorium was enacted at the committee meeting.