HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting Remote Public Comment Sign-In 5/18/2026 8:50:45 AM Council • RemoteComment
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PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING FORM:
When not attending the meeting in person,you may provide written or oral public comment.To provide oral comment through
Microsoft Teams,you must pre-register to speak by 9:00 a.m.the day of the meeting,by filling out this form or by calling 360-403-3441.
Prior to the meeting,directions will be emailed to you by 6:00 p.m.the day of the meeting.
If you have any questions,please contact the Administration Department at 360-403-3441 or administration@arlingtonwa.gov.
If you would like to submit written public comment only,you may do so in the written comment section below.Written comment must
be submitted by 9:00 a.m.the Monday of the meeting.
Both written and oral public comment will be documented as public comment.
Date of the City Council meeting you would like to provide remote comment:*
2026-05-18
First Name:* Last Name:*
Alexandra Connor
Phone Number: E-mail*
4358791286 alexsawyer@gmail.com
Address*
Street Address
5423 161st PI NW
Address Line 2
City State/Province/Region
Stanwood WA
Postal/Zip Code
98292
Will you be providing comment on an agenda item,or on a topic that is not on the agenda(general comment)?*
Agenda Item General Comment
Which agenda item or topic would you like to provide public comment on?*
To the Planning Commission/City Council/County Officials,
I am writing in opposition to the proposed data center and/industrial complex development in our community.
Our town is at a critical crossroads.The decisions being made today will shape the future of our neighborhoods,resources,affordability,and
quality of life for decades to come.Growth itself is not the issue—irresponsible growth is.
Over the past several years,our area has already absorbed rapid development,increased housing density,and infrastructure strain without
adequate long-term planning.Many longtime residents feel that the character of our community is being steadily replaced by overdevelopment
driven primarily by outside money and corporate interests rather than the needs of the people who actually live here.
Now we are being asked to accept a large-scale data center that could place even greater pressure on our community resources.
Data centers are not harmless warehouses.They are among the most resource-intensive developments being built in America today.
According to the International Energy Agency,data center electricity demand is surging worldwide due to artificial intelligence growth and could
consume up to 9%of total U.S.electricity generation in the coming years. [�vi
Large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons of water per day—comparable to the water usage of an entire small town. am;
Even a single 100-megawatt data center can use more electricity than 75,000 homes combined. 6
Communities across the country are increasingly pushing back because they are seeing the consequences firsthand:
• rising electricity costs,
• strain on local power grids,
• increased noise pollution,
• environmental degradation,
• pressure on water systems,
• and minimal long-term local employment compared to the scale of the project. wj'
A recent national poll found that 71%of Americans oppose data center construction near their communities due to concerns about
environmental impact,quality of life,and rising utility costs. ;
These are not irrational fears.In some regions,watchdog groups have linked rapid data center expansion to significant increases in electricity
prices and growing strain on public infrastructure. ;
Meanwhile,local residents are left asking:
• Who truly benefits from these projects?
• Will local families see lower costs or a better quality of life?
• Or will we simply absorb the environmental and infrastructure burden while corporations and developers profit?
Our community should not become an industrial utility zone for massive tech companies.
We should be prioritizing:
• sustainable growth,
• protection of local resources,
• affordability for working families,
• preservation of neighborhood character,
• and thoughtful development that strengthens community rather than overwhelms it.
Greed and short-term revenue should not be the driving force behind decisions that permanently reshape our town.
Development should serve the people who already live here—not push them out.
I urge city and county leadership to reject this proposal or,at minimum,delay approval until independent environmental,infrastructure,traffic,
water,and energy impact studies are completed and fully shared with the public.
The future of our community should be guided by sustainability,affordability,and the voices of residents—not solely by corporate expansion
and tax revenue projections.
Respectfully,
Alex Connor
Signature*