West Richland residents press council for public forum on proposed Lewis and Clark data center; staff says no application yet

Residents told the West Richland City Council on Monday that a proposed data center in the Lewis and Clark Ranch area could harm the community, citing potential increases in utility costs, heavy water use and noise, and questioning long‑term local job benefits.

During the public‑comment period a resident (address given for the record) said a University of Michigan study shows data centers can raise electricity demand and utility bills, consume large volumes of water, generate persistent noise from generators and cooling equipment, and may not provide sustained high‑paying employment. Speakers asked what tax incentives would be offered and whether the city had evaluated alternative land uses.

City staff responded that no application has been submitted to the city and therefore staff has not begun formal public outreach on a specific project. Community Development Director Mendenhall told the council that a project of the scale mentioned would likely require a SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) determination of significance, scoping and environmental review, and would include opportunities for community comment and mitigation measures.

Mendenhall outlined a tentative schedule for coordinated planning work on the Lewis and Clark Ranch: a joint planning‑commission/city‑council meeting next Tuesday for an update; a Feb. 10 joint meeting on development regulations; a March 10 meeting on the SEPA planned‑action ordinance and related documents; an April 21 first reading; and a May 5 second reading. He said those meetings would be the appropriate venues for community input and technical review.

Other public commenters urged the council to address fireworks safety after previous July 4 celebrations. Jerry Boggs and Polly Parton described property‑and‑public‑safety risks and asked the council to convene a public workshop and consider stronger regulation and enforcement. Another resident raised concerns about pets and noise sensitivity.

The council did not take action on any land‑use application at the meeting. Staff emphasized that, because the city has not received an application, it has not begun approval processes and that any formal proposals would trigger public notice and environmental review.

The planning schedule announced by staff sets multiple opportunities for public input later this spring; the council and planning commission will consider development regulations and the planned‑action ordinance for Lewis and Clark Ranch at the dates noted.