Planners propose moving utility capacity check to front of data-center applications

County planning staff recommended moving a utility-capacity screening to the front of the development application so applicants show water and electric availability earlier in the review process. Staff said the change is project-specific and intended to reduce later delays rather than impose a blanket requirement on every contract. "What I'm proposing is to put that in the very front of the process," Speaker 2 said, describing the proposed change to the application.

Staff and a reviewing committee member discussed tailoring the requirement to project complexity, noting that some projects will need more detailed capacity proofs and others will need only a simple confirmation. The draft will require letters of availability from utilities, and staff said the county will work with applicants to clarify when preliminary or final plans must include evidence of service commitments. The group agreed to circulate a revised Version 5 of the draft and to publish the finalized language on the county website after internal review.