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Resident alleges planning process was bypassed for Mount Athos data center; offers FOIA records
Summary
At the hearing a resident said FOIA records show a Mount Athos data center site plan was approved despite code not allowing data centers at the time and called for restoring special-use permitting to ensure public review and oversight.
A resident told the commission she reviewed Freedom of Information Act records and alleged procedural irregularities around a Mount Athos data center site plan approval, saying the planning and PEC process approved a site while the county code did not list data centers as an approved use.
"It was never mentioned to the board...that a data center had already been approved," said Sandy Glass, who offered to share her FOIA documents with the commission. Glass said the PEC classified the project as manufacturing and approved the site plan without taking it through the special-use process or notifying supervisors.
Staff and commissioners heard the allegation but did not provide a detailed on-the-record rebuttal during the hearing; commissioners asked staff to investigate and said they would request staff to prepare ordinance language and criteria to ensure consistent future review. Glass also warned about potential large water use and reliance on mobile generators if grid capacity is insufficient.
