Burien City Council Enacts One-Year Moratorium on New Data Centers
The Burien City Council unanimously approved an immediate one-year moratorium on new data centers to allow staff time to research their impacts. The council also discussed upcoming Comprehensive Plan and zoning updates, including contentious changes near the Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA). Other topics included potential increases to Transportation Impact Fees, local immigration arrests, and a possible school relocation.
The Burien City Council, during its June 29, 2026 meeting, unanimously approved an emergency one-year moratorium on new data centers. This decision was made to allow city staff to research the potential benefits and drawbacks of data centers, such as resource utilization and job creation, as the city currently lacks internal expertise on the subject. Interim City Attorney Ann Marie Soto noted that the definition for data centers used in the moratorium was borrowed from Seattle, and the moratorium is effective immediately.
In addition to the data center moratorium, the council addressed several other key issues. Senior Planner Chaney Skadsen presented on potential updates to the city's Comprehensive Plan and a North of NERA rezone. Public comments highlighted concerns that the proposed NERA zoning changes could negatively impact an entire neighborhood and reduce property values, despite staff efforts to minimize community impact. These zoning updates are slated for a public hearing on July 8th, with final adoption anticipated on October 12th.
Further discussions included a potential significant increase to the city's Transportation Impact Fees, which are currently among the lowest in the state. Staff recommended a phased increase, but Deputy Mayor Hugo Garcia suggested a faster escalation. The council also heard concerns about rising local immigration arrests and the potential relocation of Cascade Middle School to the Shark Garden location, a move that would represent the first new school built in Burien in many years.