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Staff to propose Vernon ordinance regulating data centers; first reading scheduled
Summary
City staff told the council Washington County currently controls development under the county comprehensive plan; staff will draft Vernon-specific guidelines for data centers and has scheduled a first reading this month and a second reading in September after required notice.
City staff reported that, because Vernon is incorporated into the county comprehensive plan and land-use code, Washington County currently controls development approvals, and the city must adopt a local ordinance to set specific limits or requirements for data centers.
"Washington County really controls, ultimately, development within the city of Vernon," the staff speaker (S7) told council members while describing drafting challenges. S7 said the city will work over the next year to propose guidelines specific to Vernon and that the ordinance will appear for a first reading at the upcoming meeting this month and a second reading in September after the required public notice is published at least 10 days before the hearing.
The staff speaker cautioned that drafting required creative solutions because county codes currently govern land use, and said the city cannot issue a business license to operations that meet the data-center criteria until local rules are clarified. Council closed discussion and the chair (S1) called for a motion; the transcript ends as members were voting and no final vote was recorded in the provided excerpt.
