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Council directs city attorney to draft two-year moratorium on data-center approvals
Summary
A council member moved and the council approved a motion directing the city attorney to prepare a temporary two-year moratorium on data-center development-related land-use approvals to allow review of zoning, the comprehensive plan and utility and infrastructure impacts; the moratorium will be referred to the Planning Commission for review and public hearing.
A council member moved to direct the city attorney to prepare a temporary two-year moratorium ordinance on data-center development-related land-use approvals; the motion was seconded and approved by the council.
The mover said the moratorium would allow the council, the planning commission and appropriate bodies time to review zoning and land-use regulations, comprehensive-plan considerations, utility capacities, infrastructure impacts and related concerns. The mover noted the city’s comprehensive plan is over 10 years old and that updating it can be a lengthy process involving public outreach; the council discussed seeking grant funding for an update and noted a prior $60,000 grant application was not approved.
The motion directs that the draft moratorium ordinance be referred to the Washington Planning Commission for review, a public hearing and a recommendation before final council consideration. Council members said two years would allow time for plan updates and for staff and the commission to gather needed information; they also noted the council could extend the moratorium if more time were required.
