Hillsboro City Council Special Work Session: June 9, 2026

The Hillsboro City Council held a special work session on June 9, 2026, focusing extensively on data centers, land use regulations, and the city's enterprise zone program. The council discussed environmental protections related to waterways and sensitive natural areas, land use zoning for data centers, and the development process including public notice and permitting. Significant attention was given to the enterprise zone tax exemption program, which incentivizes business investment and job creation through property tax abatements. Council members reviewed the program's financial impacts, including community service fees and school support fees, and debated proposals to increase transparency and public oversight of enterprise zone agreements, particularly for data centers. They also considered potential amendments to land use codes to impose stricter restrictions on data center development, including employment requirements and environmental impact assessments. The council expressed interest in exploring a community benefit fund to provide utility bill credits to income-qualified households, addressing concerns about the cost burden on residents. Staff committed to conducting further environmental and economic impact studies and to providing a summary of policy directions and timelines. A motion to require city council approval for all enterprise zone applications passed with a 4-2 vote, reflecting concerns about public trust and transparency. Overall, the meeting centered on balancing economic development incentives with environmental stewardship and community impact, with multiple action items for staff to develop policy options and analyses for future council consideration.