Klickitat County Zoning Interpretation Eases Data Center Development
The Klickitat County Planning Commission previously approved a code interpretation classifying data centers as 'light-industrial activity,' allowing them as an outright use in industrial park zones without formal public hearings. This decision aims to attract data centers for economic development, with proposed sites in Dallesport and Goldendale. The county is also developing a Community Benefits Agreement to ensure local residents benefit from future projects.
The Klickitat County Planning Commission made a pivotal, though little-noticed, decision over three years ago to categorize data centers as "light-industrial activity," akin to warehouses. This interpretation, requested by David McClure, director of natural resources and economic development for the county, allows data centers to be an outright use in the county's industrial park (IP) zones. This means such developments would not require a formal public hearing process, streamlining their establishment within designated areas like Dallesport and Goldendale.
This decision, approved unanimously by the Planning Commission in 2023, was made without altering existing zoning ordinances, as it was a code interpretation. According to economic development specialist Chelsey Jones, the move reflects Klickitat County's goal to strengthen and diversify its economy through employment opportunities and an increased tax base. The county is currently finalizing a Community Benefits Agreement, anticipated to be ready in a few months, designed to ensure local residents and the county benefit from large-scale developments.
Two publicly-known potential data center sites, one on the former aluminum smelter in Goldendale and another on an orchard in Dallesport, both fall within IP zones. Other IP zones exist in Bingen, Lyle, Wishram, and Roosevelt. Scott Edelman, Klickitat County's planning director, noted that proposals outside IP zones but within urban boundaries would still require a conditional use permit and a public hearing. He also clarified that the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act prohibits industrial development outside urban areas, although urban areas are exempt.
Despite the lack of a formal public hearing for IP-zoned projects, the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) does offer an opportunity for public comment, though not a meeting. Landowners in unincorporated communities can also apply for zone changes, which would involve public hearings and approval by the Board of Commissioners. This story remains under development.