Morrow County
Pro-Data Center Policies
Morrow County has enacted zoning changes that allow data centers on specific sites, including one limited to data-center use; these do not broadly ease development elsewhere, and road, traffic-coordination, and permit conditions apply.
current law · Specified unincorporated parcels subject to the data-center zoning amendments, including the approximately 1,298-acre Threemile Canyon Farms site near BoardmanAmends Morrow County’s Comprehensive Plan and zoning maps for two parcels and was adopted by the Board of Commissioners on July 16, 2025 (adopted ... on July 16, 2025).Morrow County Ordinance 2025-02
What this means
If enacted, this measure would open about 1,298 acres to data center development by changing the zoning and creating an overlay for data center and farm uses. That is a substantial benefit for this specific site, though it does not broadly ease data center development elsewhere, and the plan also moves another 1,623 acres into farm zoning.
People behind it
- Threemile Canyon Farms, LLC
Applicant and owner that proposed the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map amendments to rezone approximately 1,298 acres for an exascale data center.
- Tamra Mabbott
Morrow County Planning Director who presented the application, coordinated the findings and conditions, and administered the planning review.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements2
The Limited Use Overlay restricts the rezoned area to exascale data centers and related permitted farm uses; other industrial uses are not authorized.
Development of the data-center site requires site plan review, and no development may occur before that review is completed.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions3
The measure changes the comprehensive-plan and zoning designations for approximately 1,298 acres from Agricultural and Space Age Industrial to Industrial and General Industrial, respectively, making the property available for industrial development including data centers. change the plan and zone map designations of a 1,298-acre parcel
The measure adopts a Limited Use Overlay Zone that limits the rezoned area to data center and farm uses, providing a specific zoning framework for data-center development and operation. adopt a Limited Use Overlay Zone to limit use to a data center and farm uses
The measure adopts exceptions to Statewide Planning Goals 3, 11, and 14 to allow the establishment and operation of a data center use, overcoming otherwise applicable farmland, public-facilities, and urbanization planning constraints. adopt Exceptions to Statewide Planning Goals 3, 11 & 14 to allow the establishment and operation of a data center use
Sources
current law · County project: The 274-acre Rowan Percheron project parcel in the unincorporated area near Tower Road, west and south of the City of BoardmanApproves Rowan Percheron LLC’s conversion of approximately 274 acres from Exclusive Farm Use to General Industrial for a data center, with a Limited Use Overlay restricting industrial use to the data-center project and associated facilities, subject to the ordinance and findings.Morrow County Ordinance 2023-6
What this means
The measure would make a data center possible on a specific 274-acre site by changing its zoning and limiting the site to data-center use. Road funding, farm-traffic coordination, and permits add costs and conditions, but the overall effect is a meaningful, site-specific benefit.
People behind it
- Rowan Percheron, LLC
Applicant and proponent that submitted the proposed comprehensive plan amendment, zone change, limited-use overlay, and statewide planning goal exceptions.
- Morrow County Board of Commissioners
County legislative body that held the final public hearing and adopted Ordinance No. ORD-2023-6 approving the proposed amendments and goal exceptions.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements12
The Limited Use Overlay restricts the rezoned parcel's industrial use to a data center and associated accessory facilities; other General Industrial uses are not authorized.
Data center construction is subject to ministerial site-plan review under MCZO 4.165.
Before construction and operation, the project must obtain all required local, state, and federal permits and approvals, including Oregon DEQ NPDES 1200-C, onsite septic, and Basic Air Contaminant Discharge permits.
Before construction, the applicant must enter into a Road Use Agreement and fund $267,000 for chip sealing the first nine miles of Tower Road.
Before construction, the applicant must provide Threemile Canyon Farms with the construction-traffic schedule and coordinate to minimize impacts on farm traffic during harvest.
Electricity, water, and other third-party infrastructure serving the project must be provided substantially as described in the application record and receive all required local, state, and federal approvals.
The county may not issue zoning or building permits unless the project demonstrates that water will be available as described in the application, including through the Port of Morrow system or onsite storage.
Stormwater and industrial wastewater must be managed onsite through approved retention, evaporation, septic, or related systems rather than relying on public wastewater service.
The project must avoid wetlands, drainages, and the FEMA floodplain and maintain a 250-foot buffer from the Boardman Conservation Area and a 100-foot buffer from surveyed wetlands and other riparian habitat.
The project must report discovered cultural, archaeological, or historical artifacts to the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation's Cultural Resources Protection Program.
Landscaping must be drought tolerant and use native plants where practicable; long-term irrigation is prohibited.
The ordinance does not become effective until the 21-day appeal period following its second reading expires.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions10
Rezoning approximately 274 acres from Exclusive Farm Use to General Industrial, enabling an urban-scale data center on the parcel.
Adopting exceptions to Statewide Planning Goals 3, 11, and 14, allowing the data center outside an urban growth boundary and permitting extension of public water service to the rural site.
Applying a Limited Use Overlay that restricts the parcel's industrial use to a data center, providing a defined site-specific zoning pathway for the approved use.
Subjecting data-center construction to ministerial site plan review under MCZO 4.165 rather than discretionary site plan review, while still requiring all applicable permits and approvals.
Allowing water service from the Port of Morrow through proposed infrastructure, provided water availability is demonstrated before zoning or building permits are issued.
Allowing stored water or temporary trucking of potable water if the Port of Morrow delivery infrastructure is not complete when operations begin.
Accommodating electricity service through a new 230-kV transmission connection using the existing Tower Road right-of-way, with provider approvals and required permits.
Allowing stormwater and industrial wastewater to be managed onsite through retention or evaporation ponds and sanitary wastewater through an onsite septic system instead of requiring public sewer service, subject to applicable permits.
Providing for road infrastructure improvements through a required Road Use Agreement under which the applicant funds $267,000 to chip-seal the first nine miles of Tower Road before construction.
Waiving perimeter-screening requirements because the County found no adverse visual-resource impacts.
Sources
Data provided by Regbase · Cookie preferences · Report missing data
