West RichlandThursday, November 5
West Richland's council approves data center rules but rejects a six-month moratorium
The Good Day Richland team
Hundreds of people packed West Richland's City Council meeting Tuesday night, and the council approved interim data center rules with all six members voting yes. The rules ban cryptocurrency mining in all zones and remove an existing noise exemption. TriYakNews also reports an ordinance limiting data centers to Mixed-Use Light Industrial land.
“Do not allow Amazon to write the rules.”
Councilmember Kate Moran's motion to have staff draft a six-month moratorium failed on a 3-3 vote. It needed five votes to pass. A moratorium won't come up at the next council meeting, so talks between the city, Amazon and developers continue.
The moratorium motion got three of the five votes it needed
Sources: TriYakNews.com, Nonstop Local News
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Votes for the motion | 3 |
| Votes needed to pass | 5 |
- Also approved: developer must reimburse the city's review costs
- Reimbursement applies even if no data center is built
- Amendment: future agreements need protections matching or beating city code
- Status: no data center construction approved in West Richland
Permanent data center rules are planned for a first reading in March
- Nov. 3Council approves interim rules; moratorium motion fails.
- Dec. 15Public hearing on the interim regulations is scheduled.
- FebruaryMore Planning Commission meetings are planned into the month.
- MarchFirst reading of the final ordinance is planned.
Source: Nonstop Local News
Sources: TriYakNews.com, Nonstop Local News