Arlington clarifies code does not include data centers

The city of Arlington, Washington, explicitly updated its municipal land use code on June 15 to prohibit data centers within city limits, a move prompted by significant public concern. City officials, including spokesperson Mandy Kruger and City Administrator Paul Ellis, clarified that while data centers were not previously a permissible use, the amendment added clear exclusionary language and a definition to address residents' demands. This action followed a proposed 1.2 million-square-foot development, known as Project Cascade, in the Cascade Industrial Center spanning Arlington and Marysville. Although Amazon later clarified that Project Cascade would be an operations facility rather than a data center, the public's initial concern spurred calls for a complete ban on future data center construction.

During the same June 15 meeting, the Arlington City Council also unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with Marysville. This agreement, explained by Arlington's development services engineering manager Thad Newport, outlines the collaborative framework for jurisdictional issues, permitting responsibilities, and development standards should Project Cascade proceed and encompass both cities. Newport emphasized that the agreement does not constitute an approval for Project Cascade itself or any permits, but rather establishes the operational parameters for future cooperation between the two municipalities.