Council asks planning commission to study data center rules after staff briefing

The Snowqualami City Council voted June 8 to ask the planning commission to evaluate how data centers are treated in the city's zoning code and to return with options for council consideration.

Staff presented an information packet that mapped current zoning where data centers are permitted inside city limits and summarized options for council action: strengthen standards, remove eligibility, create scale-based tiers, prohibit citywide, or adopt interim controls. The staff memo noted that King County does not currently permit data centers in the city's urban growth area (UG) but that counties and cities elsewhere are actively reviewing rules.

Council members debated whether to pursue a moratorium (which would compress timelines and require rapid resource deployment) or to proceed through the regular planning commission review process. Advocates of the regular process emphasized folding any review into an already contracted zoning update work program to avoid diverting scarce staff resources from higher-priority matters. Council member Holloway moved and Council member Johnson seconded the motion to request the planning commission evaluate the issue; the motion passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: Large-scale data centers can have substantial impacts on water and energy use, traffic, utilities, wetland buffers and other infrastructure. Codifying clear local standards or prohibitions ahead of proposals can preserve local review options and reduce risk of automatic vesting under existing criteria.

What's next: The planning commission will consider the request, gather public input and return recommendations to the council. The council may also consider an interim moratorium if a development proposal materializes while the review is underway.