On Monday night, Salem’s City Council will conduct a public hearing that could reshape how the city treats large‑scale technology facilities. The agenda item focuses on whether the existing zoning ordinance, adopted in 2013, should be interpreted to exclude artificial‑intelligence (AI) or hyperscale data centers such as the one proposed by Verrus at the Mill Creek Corporate Center.

Background on the Verrus application

Verrus, a Silicon Valley firm backed by Google, submitted its data‑center proposal to the city on July 31, just before a 120‑day moratorium on new data‑center applications took effect in September. The city deemed the application incomplete in August, and the company has continued to work with city staff under the assumption that its project fits within the current code’s definition of a “data center facility.”

Legal and procedural context

City Attorney Dan Atchison explained that the council’s interpretation will be binding on all city policies and actions, including any decision on the already‑filed Verrus application. He noted that Oregon’s “goal‑post rule,” which prevents applying newly adopted standards to an existing land‑use application, does not apply here because the council would be interpreting, not amending, the existing code.

Atchison added that staff reviewed Verrus’s proposal during the early pre‑application stage and, while the city has not formally declared the project permissible, both staff and the applicant have operated under the understanding that the proposal aligns with the code as written.

Potential impact on AI data‑center development

If the council adopts an interpretation that limits the 2013 zoning language to conventional data‑center facilities, AI and hyperscale projects could face additional hurdles in Salem. Such a reading would set a precedent for future applications, potentially influencing how the city balances economic development with community concerns about large‑scale technology infrastructure.

Public participation

Residents and interested parties are encouraged to watch the meeting online and submit public comments. The city has provided multiple avenues for participation, ensuring that community voices are heard before the council makes a final decision.

Next steps

Following the hearing, the council will deliberate and vote on the interpretation. The outcome will determine whether Verrus can proceed under the current zoning framework or if the city will need to adopt new regulations to address AI and hyperscale data‑center projects explicitly.

For further details, contact reporter Joe Siess at [email protected].

Original reporting: Salem Reporter — read the source article.