Woodburn, OR — Yesterday, the City of Woodburn issued the required 45-day notice to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), formally signaling the City’s intent to consider a temporary moratorium on new data center development projects within city limits.
This notice initiates the statutory review period required before the City Council may deliberate on and potentially adopt a moratorium. The action reflects Woodburn’s commitment to ensuring that large-scale, high-intensity uses, such as data centers, are evaluated carefully for their long-term impacts on infrastructure, land use, and community livability.
The decision to issue the 45-day notice also follows increasing public discourse and community concern regarding the potentially negative impacts associated with data center developments. Residents and stakeholders have raised questions about infrastructure strain, compatibility with surrounding uses, and environmental and community effects. Issuing the notice provides the City with the necessary time and legal framework to fully evaluate those concerns.
While no formal development application has been submitted, the City is aware that data center developer, Verrus, is exploring the possibility of developing a data center in or near Woodburn. Initiating the moratorium process helps ensure that the City and community have appropriate time to evaluate relevant policies and procedures before any formal proposal is received. There is currently no Council action pending regarding any data center projects in Woodburn.
Ordinance Amendment Ensures Conditional Review of Data Centers
In June 2026, the City amended the Woodburn Development Ordinance to designate data centers as a conditional use within the Southwest Industrial Reserve Area (SWIR). This amendment ensured that data centers would receive a more intensive review and could not be reviewed as an outright permitted use.
Making data centers a conditional use guarantees a public hearing, giving community members the opportunity to be heard on any proposed development. It also allows the City to place conditions on development to mitigate potentially negative impacts or to deny approval if it is determined that no set of conditions can fully address those impacts.
Community Development Director Chris Kerr emphasized the importance of the recent ordinance amendment. “We made data centers a conditional use because it guarantees a public hearing and ensures the community has a voice,” Kerr said. “Conditional use review also gives the City the ability to apply conditions to mitigate potential negative impacts or deny an application if those impacts cannot be adequately addressed. It provides a balanced and thoughtful approach.”
“The 45-day notice of intent to consider implementing a moratorium is about giving the community and the City time to think carefully,” said City Manager Scott Derickson. “We’re hearing a lot of public concern about the possible impacts of data centers, from infrastructure demand to compatibility with surrounding land uses. Issuing this notice simply ensures we have the space, information, and public input necessary before any decisions are made.”
The purpose of the conditional use framework is to enable the City to apply conditions addressing potential impacts, including:
• Infrastructure strain on water, power, and transportation systems
• Noise, heat, and land use compatibility considerations
• Community and environmental impacts
• Design, siting, and construction standards tailored to large-scale industrial uses
Following the notice period, the City Council may hold a public hearing to consider whether a moratorium is warranted. Any proposed moratorium would require statutory findings demonstrating the need for temporary development restrictions.
The City of Woodburn remains committed to open communication and public engagement throughout this process. Community members, businesses, and stakeholders will have opportunities to provide input as the City evaluates its approach to data center development.
