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Residents tell Salem council Verus proposal threatens water, pets and quiet — demand transparency
Summary
Dozens of residents urged an immediate moratorium and stricter rules, citing low‑frequency noise, high water use, risks to pets and wildlife, and frustration over a nondisclosure agreement that kept the project secret. Speakers demanded enforceable thresholds, setbacks and disclosure of NDA participants.
Several residents told the council the proposed project, linked in testimony to Verus/Elderstone, poses risks to neighborhood health, animal welfare and city resources and that the NDA process denied the public timely information.
"These facilities emit low frequency noise ... People living near data centers describe an idling jet engine that never shuts off and report loss of sleep, migraines, and nausea," testified Alex Clay (SEG 1067), who said he has walked floors of multiple data centers. Julia Gellerud, who said she works at the Oregon Humane Spay and Neuter Clinic, said the Oak Line at Mill Creek site lies 1.4 miles from her clinic and warned constant noise and potential water impacts could worsen animals’ health and disrupt surgeries.
Hannah Hendricks told council she supports a 12‑month moratorium and new zoning that would require minimum 1,000‑foot setbacks from residential areas, schools and hospitals and measurable utility thresholds tying approvals to verifiable limits. Many speakers also demanded that future NDAs be banned for public infrastructure projects and asked the council to disclose who signed the earlier agreement.
Speakers from environmental and community groups repeatedly said a moratorium should be used to develop enforceable standards on water use, wastewater discharge, noise (including low‑frequency measurements) and transparency requirements so project claims can be verified before permits are approved.
Councilors said they heard the public and voted to direct staff to begin the moratorium and code amendment process. Several members urged staff to return with clear technical thresholds and stronger public oversight.
