The West Richland City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, adopted interim rules for data centers that bar them from the city's light industrial zone, prohibit cryptocurrency mining citywide and strip out an existing noise exemption. A push by residents for a six-month moratorium came up short, failing on a tie vote, as a large crowd packed the meeting days after Amazon confirmed it plans a data center campus in the city.

All six councilmembers voted for the interim regulations, NonStop Local reported. Council also added an amendment requiring any future development agreement for a data center to carry protections equal to or stronger than city code. As drafted in the city's agenda packet, a development agreement could otherwise set its own standards and override conflicting parts of the new data center chapter.

Councilmember Kate Moran made a separate motion aimed at a six-month moratorium. It failed 3-3. Many in the audience said the adopted rules did not go far enough and asked the city to stop taking data center applications altogether. Tension boiled over at points, and Mayor Fred Brink paused the meeting to restore order after residents objected that the vote was coming before public comment.

City staff described the measure as an interim official control that would last six months unless the council repeals or renews it. According to the ordinance in the agenda packet, it takes effect immediately and applies only to applications filed after that, so it does not affect projects that already have vested rights. The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business reported that Amazon has not yet filed any permit applications.

Amazon confirmed this week that it is the buyer of roughly 1,000 acres at Lewis & Clark Ranch, northeast of Ruppert Road. Dallas-based developer Trammell Crow first bought the land in July from the estate of farmer Frank Tiegs. Amazon Web Services plans three data center buildings to start, and the campus could eventually grow to as many as 21. About 200 homes sit across Ruppert Road from the site, which has driven much of the local pushback.

Tri-Cities Data Center Watch, a group opposed to the project, had earlier handed the council petitions with 853 West Richland signatures asking for a six-month moratorium, according to the council's meeting minutes.

A public hearing on the interim rules is set for 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at West Richland City Hall, 3100 Belmont Blvd. NonStop Local reported that Planning Commission work on permanent rules is expected to continue into February, with a first reading of a final ordinance targeted for March.

Amazon will hold a public open house on the project from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at Enterprise Middle School, 5200 Paradise Way in West Richland.

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