Commission Tuesday

Happy Tuesday!

I am out of town this week doing a few portrait sessions in the beautiful state of Hawaii. The regular job has its perks for sure. This also means that the updates this week will likely be a bit sporadic.

I will still be reading/researching things. I will still be writing to keep you all updated on what is going on. I will still be driving local elected leaders crazy... just at a different schedule, one that is 6 hours behind. The benefit here is that I am generally a night owl, so when I finish something around mid-night, I can just post it rather than waiting.

Today is sort of a boring day at the County Commission meeting, especially by comparison to the last meeting. I do not expect fireworks here, but you never know. Will Commissioner Finegan come out with some sort of statement to start the meeting? Aside from that potentially being a thing, I do not expect it to be addressed at all. Members of the public may weigh in on it during open to the public, but I do not expect a response.

This one should be drama free.

However... the data center ordinance is back. This will likely draw a similar crowd to what we saw last week, so there is potential for clapping, cheering, etc, as we saw previously. I bet we see a bit more forceful chair this time.

This is the result of the vote last meeting about the moratorium. The ordinance is back now for final approval to be implemented.

This is a 1:25pm time certain, so it should be around that time. There are a few items before it that may push it back a bit, but this will not be a show up at 1pm and wait until 3pm to talk about it. This will happen BEFORE open to the public, but there will be a public comment portion to this as it is a hearing.

The language of this ordinance cites the water resources and the desire to protect the environment from the potential harms of data centers. You can read the whole thing here.

At the least meeting, we saw Clark Stillwell get up and claim that the moratorium would not apply to the Holder Industrial Park application to expand the industrial zoning and include a data center. He is correct in that the application has been filed before the moratorium has taken place, therefore, the county will have to hear the application.

However, there is language in this moratorium that I would think would apply.

While the rezoning and other development applications are pending, I do not think there are any building permits pending, as they do not have any approvals that would allow them to get a building permit. While the project would have to be heard, I do not think they would be able to get a building permit if the project is approved... at least for a the duration of the moratorium.

That said, if the desire of the community is to deny the data center application, then do not let up off that goal, even if the moratorium is enacted. IF this project is approved, as it currently is, they will be able to get a data center at some point when the moratorium expires. So keep pushing the BOCC to deny that application.

Of interesting note, an influential member of the community came forward this time and sent a letter to the BOCC urging them not to ban data centers or do the moratorium.

He is urging the BOCC to let the Land Development Code changes regarding data centers go through the process rather than implementing a moratorium on all building.

The plan for the moratorium is to do just that. This moratorium would block all applications (except those already in the works) from going forward for a year. This would allow the county time to do the Land Development Code changes and go through all the public hearings and all of that. This moratorium would not change any of that process... it would just not allow anyone to do a building permit for one today.

This will be interesting to watch as Mr Hollins has a good bit of influence on the board. He is well respected by most in the community and has taken part in the Comprehensive Plan creation and re-write.

Also, worth noting. He has been active in campaign contributions over the years. He has given the following amounts, either directly or via related companies/family members over the last few elections cycles:

Jeff Kinnard: $3,500
Holly Davis: $1,800
Rebecca Bays: $1,000
Diana Finegan: $750

Point here is... when Mr Hollins speaks, commissioners listen.

Now, I am not suggesting anything wrong with contributions to campaigns, but as I mentioned previously, when people have something come to the board like a project, or a letter in this case, I will point out contributions they may have made to the same commissioners that are receiving the letter... or voting on a project.

I would not be shocked to see the board flip their vote and vote against the moratorium now. I presume that Mr Hollins is not the only one that has come out against the moratorium. I imagine commissioners have heard from several people in recent days expressing their desire to see the moratorium fail.

Speaking of hearing from the public... an update was just sent that includes all public comments, over 55 emails.

We will see.

Have a great day everyone!