Spokane County pauses data center permitting
Spokane County Commissioners have voted to enact a pause on all land use and permit applications for data centers until December 15. This decision was influenced by significant public input, demonstrating strong community opposition. During the pause, a draft ordinance concerning data centers will be reviewed by the planning commission, with public hearings scheduled.
Spokane County Commissioners have moved to implement a temporary halt on all land use and permit applications for data centers within the county, with the pause set to last until December 15. Commissioner Chris Jordan acknowledged that this decision was largely driven by a strong showing of public interest and concern, expressed through public meetings, phone calls, and emails. Jordan emphasized the non-partisan nature of the issue, framing it as a community-wide concern.
During this moratorium period, the commissioners plan to introduce a draft ordinance related to data center development. This draft will be forwarded to the planning commission, and both the planning commission and the County Commissioners will hold public hearings to gather further input before making a final decision. This action signals a move towards potentially stricter regulations on data center construction in the county.