Seattle Land Use Committee Debates Data Center Moratorium and SEPA Appeals Changes on June 3, 2026

The Land Use and Sustainability Committee of the Seattle City Council met on June 3, 2026, to consider three major agenda items: a proposed moratorium on large data centers, a bill to alter the public's ability to appeal environmental reviews of council land use decisions, and a request to extend a contract rezone for a housing project in Columbia City. After hearing over 30 public comments, the committee voted unanimously to recommend passage of the data center moratorium (as amended) and approved the contract rezone extension. The SEPA appeals bill was discussed but no vote was taken; a future public hearing is planned.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Support for Data Center Moratorium (CB 121214): Dozens of speakers urged the council to pass the moratorium. Key concerns included: high energy and water consumption, noise pollution (up to 93 decibels, audible two miles away), heat island effects, threats to climate commitments, and the risk of stranded assets. Many speakers identified themselves as tech workers, community activists, or environmental advocates. Specific speakers: Rebecca Young (D3 resident) emphasized water use during a drought; Laura Byrd (Pioneer Square business owner) urged prioritizing people over tech; Liesel Wingard (Amazon Employees for Climate Justice) called for renewable energy and job protections; Patrick Schulster (Amazon Employees for Climate Justice) highlighted 200 billion in Amazon capital spending and layoffs; Audrey Wangoslan (electrical engineer in D2) warned of grid strain; Ben Jones (350 Seattle) noted a recent filing for a nine-story data center; Phil Lewis (Seattle Human Rights Commission) warned of environmental injustice impacts on communities of color. Several speakers recommended improvements to the work plan, including using megawatts instead of megavolt amperes, forming a community advisory board, and making community benefits mandatory rather than voluntary.
• Opposition to CB 121215 (SEPA Appeals Changes): Multiple speakers opposed the bill, arguing it would concentrate power and eliminate citizen environmental review. Speakers included Sarah Lapis (Tree Action Seattle), who said the bill would remove SEPA appeals related to the comprehensive plan; Steve Zemke (TreePack and Friends of Seattle's Urban Forest) cited process concerns and data errors; Sandy Sheller noted that cities like Tacoma and Everett (which lack such appeals) have Superfund sites; Julia Shuttler warned it would silence appeals for Type 5 projects including data centers; Dave Gloger (D5 resident) called it anti-democratic; Jennifer Godfrey (who filed an ORCA appeal) said the city should do better environmental review initially.
• Support for Data Center Moratorium (Continued): Additional speakers included Elena Bryan (laid off due to AI), Elon Robinson (graphic designer, concerned about land use), Siraj (AI scientist/small business owner, cited 38.1% electricity price increase), Michelle Housman (urged pause for health studies), Lucy Johnson (biology graduate concerned about water pollution), Patrick Corwin (D1, noted AI data centers are different from existing ones), Cedar Bashu (cited drought and water drain), Alberto Alvarez (called data centers high-tech mining), Lauren Redfield (energy project manager, recommended megawatt threshold and community board), and Renaissance (350 Seattle, concerned about voluntary community benefits language).

Discussion Items

• Data Center Moratorium (CB 121214): The committee considered a moratorium on new or expanded data centers over a certain size (20 megavolt amperes threshold) for up to 12 months, while a work plan is developed. Two amendments were proposed and adopted. Amendment 1 (sponsored by Chair Lin) allowed existing data centers to expand by up to 20 MVA without counting their existing capacity, to support critical uses like 911, healthcare, and education. Amendment 2 added the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) to lead the work plan, particularly on community benefits and climate considerations. OSE representative Christine Bunch described potential issues: heat islands, e-waste, urban forestry impacts, and the need for balanced engagement. After amendments, the committee voted 5-0 to recommend passage of the bill as amended to the full council.
• SEPA Appeals and Director's Reports (CB 121215): Council Central Staff Lish Whitson presented a bill to remove administrative SEPA appeals (to the hearing examiner) for council adoption of comprehensive plan and development regulations, and to make director's reports voluntary for council-generated land use legislation. The presentation reviewed that 28 appeals filed in 10 years; most were dismissed or upheld, with only three remands. Seattle is one of eight large cities in the state that currently allows such appeals. Discussion focused on the purpose of SEPA (information and mitigation, not a veto), the fact that substantive environmental protections remain in code, and that the bill aligns Seattle with other cities like Bellevue and Tacoma. Chair Lin made extended remarks arguing that hearing examiner appeals cause delays (e.g., six years for the comprehensive plan update) and are anti-democratic by allowing a single person to stall elected representatives, while environmental regulations are not weakened. Councilmember Foster supported the bill as a clarification and alignment with practice. Councilmember Rinck asked clarifying questions about the director's report requirement and the role of SEPA. No vote was taken; a public hearing is scheduled for a future meeting.
• Contract Rezone Extension for 5201 Rainier Ave South (CF 314549 and CB 121220): The committee considered a two-year extension of a contract rezone for a 111-unit workforce housing project in Columbia City. The original rezone (Ordinance 125632) was passed in 2018. Applicant Scott Shapiro requested a four-year extension instead of the default two years, citing financing challenges due to interest rates, construction costs, and tariffs. Council Central Staff Ketil Freeman explained that a building permit application is still active, extending the master use permit, but the contract rezone itself needs an extension. SDCI's recommendation was silent on length. Councilmember Foster asked if a four-year extension could be granted later; staff said yes, but it would require a new legislative action. After discussion, the committee voted 4-0 (Council President Hollingsworth absent) to grant the extension for two years and to recommend passage of the associated ordinance (CB 121220).

Key Outcomes

• Data Center Moratorium (CB 121214): Passed out of committee with a 5-0 vote as amended (amendments to allow existing data center expansion up to 20 MVA and to add OSE to the work plan). Will be sent to the full City Council for the June 9, 2026 meeting.
• SEPA Appeals Bill (CB 121215): No vote taken. The item was held for additional briefing and a public hearing. Chair Lin expressed hope for continued public engagement.
• Contract Rezone Extension (CF 314549 and CB 121220): Committee voted 4-0 to grant the two-year extension and recommend passage of the ordinance. Will be forwarded to the June 9, 2026 City Council meeting, subject to timely execution of the property use and development agreement.