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Williston approves support for Northstar data center and hires consultant to fast-track entitlements
Summary
The Williston Board approved a resolution supporting a proposed data center in the Northstar subdivision, authorized SRF Consulting in a $138,503.08 task order (20/80 city/developer split), and approved a nonbinding MOU with Critical Data House, LLC; votes were unanimous (4-0).
Williston’s Board of City Commissioners on Nov. 12 approved a resolution expressing the city’s support for a developer’s plan to rearrange the Northstar Center Subdivision to accommodate a data center and authorized consultant work to advance the entitlements.
City Engineer David Juma presented Resolution 24-008 and told the board, “This resolution does not guarantee anything, and it does not circumvent any of our procedures to be followed.” The board voted 4-0 to adopt the resolution.
The board also approved SRF Consulting Task Order 1, an hourly not-to-exceed contract totaling $138,503.08 to assist the city and developer with amendments to transportation plans, zoning text, the existing PUD, development-agreement documents, and reviews of noise, traffic and utility impacts. Under the proposed cost-sharing arrangement staff described, the city would cover roughly 20% and the developer 80%; Juma said the city’s proposed share is $15,142.98 and that Section 10 of the subdivision ordinance requires the developer to deposit escrow covering the full task order cost up front. The board approved the task order and directed the City Engineer to execute the required documents by a unanimous vote.
Commissioner Tate Cymbaluk called the project “a great opportunity for our community” and thanked staff and partners working on it. Anna Nelson, director of economic development, presented a memorandum of understanding with Critical Data House, LLC that she described as a framework to protect resources for both parties while they pursue entitlements. Nelson said the MOU “in no way binds the city to this project.” The MOU was approved 4-0.
Juma told the board the city will apply to the STAR Fund to help pay the city portion; he said if STAR funding is not approved the city share would fall to the developer under the presently described arrangement. He also said the city will request an additional $10,000 from the developer to help pay for utility modeling.
Next steps include SRF beginning the scope of work outlined in Task Order 1, the city’s application to the STAR Fund for the city share, and continued entitlement work with the developer and legal review. The approvals do not authorize construction or change zoning beyond required procedural steps; all substantive permits and approvals must still follow normal review processes.
