AWS to host open house as data center application remains stalled with Walla Walla County officials
Amazon Web Services' proposed data center in Walla Walla County, Washington, faces administrative hurdles with its development application, which county officials have deemed incomplete. AWS is hosting a community open house in Burbank to engage residents before submitting its final Traffic Impact Assessment by an August 24 deadline. The project follows the Port of Walla Walla's sale of 554 acres to Amazon, with the property already zoned for data centers.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is confronting administrative challenges with its proposed data center project in Walla Walla County, Washington. County officials have declared AWS's site development and environmental review filings incomplete, necessitating further action from the tech giant. In response, AWS plans to host a community open house on August 11 at Columbia High School in Burbank, aiming to directly engage local residents. The event is a courtesy from Amazon and is not an official public hearing or government-sponsored.
Melissa Shumake, Walla Walla County Community Development Director, anticipates AWS will submit its overdue Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) following the open house, ahead of an August 24 deadline. While Amazon asserts its TIA is complete, the company has opted for public engagement before formal submission. The project's foundation lies in a February 2026 decision by the Port of Walla Walla to sell 554 acres in the Wallula Gap Business Park to Amazon, an area already zoned for data center use.
Once a complete application is submitted, county planners will issue an official notice, initiating a public comment period under the Washington State Environmental Policy Act. This process will enable a comprehensive evaluation of the project's potential land, utility, and environmental impacts, ensuring community input on the development.