Resident raises concern about rumored data center near Arlington Airport; city says no applications pending

During public comment, Julie Winchell said she was "on a fact finding mission" after hearing a rumor that a data center was planned for property east of the Arlington Airport. Winchell said she was concerned about large water and electricity demands, thermal discharge that could raise stream temperatures in the Stillaguamish River (a salmon habitat), noise, and the effects of multiple years of drought.

A city staffer responded that there are no data-center applications pending in the City of Arlington and that the permitting process would be the public path for notice and review: "There is no applications for any data centers in the city of Arlington. So yeah. We don't have any pending ones." When Winchell asked how the public would be informed if an application arrived, staff said public notice is part of the land-use process and explained that mailed notices go to property owners within a 500-foot radius.

Winchell said she would monitor the city's website for updates. The city did not announce any application or project at the meeting.