Washington County board declines immediate moratorium on data centers, asks staff to draft resolution noting community concerns

Washington County's Board of Commissioners heard a staff briefing on the county's authority and options for regulating large-scale data centers and decided not to begin the statutory moratorium notice process at this meeting. Chair Harrington summarized the board's position, saying staff should prepare a resolution and order reflecting community concerns while the county develops additional background materials.

Staff told the board there are no known large freestanding data centers in unincorporated Washington County and that few parcels larger than about 40 acres would be suitable for a large facility. Erin Wardell, assistant director of the Department of Land Use and Transportation, described the moratorium mechanics: "The statute requires a minimum of 45 notice to the state department of land use and conservation in advance of the final public hearing that takes action on enacting that moratorium," and said a moratorium can last a maximum of 120 days with a possible six-month extension.

Commissioners debated trade-offs between starting the 45-day notice (which would preserve options) and the staff workload and calendar impacts of pursuing a rule change during a moratorium. Several commissioners said existing development patterns and site constraints make a moratorium unnecessary now; other commissioners said public concern merits visible action. Chair Harrington concluded: the board does not have a majority to start the notice for a moratorium but does direct staff to prepare a "resolution and order" that documents community concerns and identifies follow-up information for the board to consider.

The action on the moratorium notice was not recorded as a formal adoption of a moratorium; rather, staff will draft the proposed resolution and a plan for a future work session to consider it. The meeting then recessed and later moved to executive session on labor negotiations.