West Richland City Council rejects data center moratorium
The West Richland City Council approved an ordinance limiting future data centers to Mixed-Use Light Industrial areas and requiring the developer working with Amazon to reimburse city review costs. The council rejected a proposed six-month moratorium, allowing discussions about potential Amazon-related development to continue.
West Richland city leaders approved new restrictions limiting data center development to land zoned Mixed-Use Light Industrial. The council also approved a requirement that the developer working with Amazon reimburse the city for administrative costs incurred while evaluating a potential project, even if construction does not proceed.
Residents urged the council to impose stronger safeguards and temporarily halt data center discussions amid concerns about potential impacts. Councilmember Kate Moran proposed a six-month moratorium, but the motion received only three of the five votes needed for passage, so no moratorium will be considered at the next meeting. No data center project has been approved, and talks among the city, Amazon and developers remain ongoing.