Routt County Planning: Data centers ‘prohibited’ under development code
Routt County's Unified Development Code, adopted in 2024, explicitly prohibits data centers, making their construction highly unlikely. This is due to the code's default prohibition of unlisted uses and the county's Master Plan emphasis on preserving agriculture and water resources. Any proposed text amendment to allow data centers would face significant opposition and would likely be denied by county entities.
Routt County Planner Michael Fitz stated that data centers are effectively prohibited in Routt County, Colorado, under the Unified Development Code adopted in 2024. The code lists allowed uses, and because data centers are not included, they are prohibited by default in all zone districts, including Agriculture/Forestry areas. Fitz emphasized that this comprehensive zoning protects the county from the concerns seen elsewhere regarding data centers appearing in agricultural regions.
This clarification comes after Steamboat Springs City Councilor Bryan Swintek noted a federal and state-level sentiment that data centers are inevitable and that local governments would bear the responsibility of managing their impacts. Swintek's comments were based on takeaways from an advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. However, Fitz maintained that Routt County's existing code largely shields it from this debate.
Amending the code to allow data centers would be extremely difficult, according to Fitz, as it would contradict the county's Master Plan, which prioritizes agricultural viability, water resources, and clustered development. Even if a text amendment were requested, planning staff, the Routt County Planning Commission, and the Routt County commissioners would likely recommend and vote against it, given the county's long-standing codes and policies centered on environmental sustainability and a growth trajectory shaped since 1980.
The article also touches on statewide discussions in Colorado regarding data centers' high electricity and water demands, with Western Slope leaders expressing concerns about water diversion during a drought. A large data center can consume up to 5 million gallons of water daily, equivalent to a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people.