Data center concerns pack Malaga meeting as county weighs community’s future

MALAGA — Concerns about a possible data center on Sabey-owned land in Malaga drew record attendance to an Oct. 7 community meeting, where county officials said no application has been submitted and residents pressed for greater protections as Malaga plans for its future.

Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay’s regular fall meeting covered roads, parks, utilities and other county business. But a privately-funded mailer about data center development helped draw a crowd that filled the room and extended onto the sidewalk outside of Fire District 17 Station, where the meeting was held.

Overbay, who lives in Malaga, reserved part of the nearly three-hour meeting for data center questions.

Residents raised concerns about noise, lighting, property values, water use and electrical demand.

Community Development Director Deanna Walter emphasized that the county had received no application of any kind for a Sabey data center.

“We haven't even had a pre-application,” Walter said.

Sabey Data Centers Vice President Ryan Beebout confirmed that the company had not submitted a building permit application.

“We haven't even started design,” Beebout said.

Walter explained that the property’s existing industrial zoning allows data centers, meaning a development meeting applicable requirements could proceed through simple administrative permit review.

Overbay said the property has been zoned rural industrial since at least 2006. Its prior use as an orchard did not change that designation, because agriculture can occur in several zoning districts.

That zoning became central to discussion of Malaga’s proposed urban growth area, part of the county’s comprehensive plan update.

Walter said a proposed “campus industrial” designation could allow standards addressing setbacks, lighting, noise mitigation and whether certain uses should require conditional use permits and public hearings.

Residents questioned how the zoning map had been developed, how business and property owner recommendations had been considered and whether the Malaga-Colockum Community Council adequately represented their views.

County officials described the council and its subcommittee as advisory. The Planning Commission makes recommendations; county commissioners decide whether to adopt the boundary and zoning.

Walter emphasized that the map that will eventually be presented to commissioners could change through the public process.

A comprehensive plan hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 from 1 to 5 p.m., in person or through Zoom. Overbay expects to request that Malaga urban growth area consideration continue until Nov. 3 to review comments and meet again with community representatives.

“I want to hear what you all have to say, and I want to weigh that against what everybody else has to say and really take a good hard look at that because really what we're doing is setting the future of this community through that zoning and through that boundary, and that is a very big undertaking,” Overbay said.

Some residents called for a moratorium or zoning changes preventing a data center on the Sabey property.

Denali White, a Wenatchee resident and local activist, brought a sign bearing tally marks collected during an Oct. 4 event along the Loop Trail in Wenatchee. White said 24 passersby supported a data center moratorium and none opposed it, aside from a toddler’s scribble. She asked whether Overbay would support a county moratorium while permanent protections were developed.

Overbay declined to commit to either action, citing the need to review facts and balance community concerns with property rights.

“What I can tell you is, if there are findings of fact that require us or would lead us to put a moratorium in place, I would not hesitate to do so,” he said.

Chelan County PUD Chief Operating Officer Dan Koch said large electrical customers must pay for interconnection studies and required infrastructure upgrades.

“None of our hydropower is going to serving data centers,” Koch said. This corrected a misconception expressed in multiple audience comments about data centers “taking our power.”

Regarding Microsoft’s separate Malaga development, Walter said three buildings have issued permits; applications for another three anticipated buildings have not been submitted.

Public Works Director Eric Pierson said Microsoft has staggered construction schedules to reduce peak traffic. Walter said Microsoft also committed to redirecting lights following county concerns.

Beebout asked residents to evaluate Sabey through its local operations and direct conversations. He has lived in Wenatchee for 15 years and said company representatives regularly attend community meetings.

“We are committed to listening,” Beebout said.

Overbay encouraged continued participation.

“At the end of the day, this is how a community should operate, is listening to one another, hearing what our concerns are, and then trying to find the right pathway forward,” he said.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media