Commissioners' Public Meeting July 09, 2026

The Missoula County Commissioners held a public meeting on July 9, 2026, which included significant discussion and public comment regarding a proposed one-year moratorium on new and expanded data center developments within the county. The moratorium aims to address emerging concerns about the environmental, health, and community impacts of data centers, including energy consumption, water use, noise pollution, and chemical discharges. The meeting featured presentations from county staff outlining the rationale for interim zoning regulations and the nature of the emergency posed by data centers, followed by extensive public testimony largely in favor of the moratorium. The commissioners voted to adopt a countywide interim zoning overlay district establishing the moratorium effective immediately through July 8, 2027, or until replaced by new regulations. Legal counsel clarified that the county currently lacks authority to permanently ban data centers, and the moratorium is intended to provide time for study and development of updated zoning rules. The meeting also included a petition to annex land into the Seely Lake Rural Fire District and a resolution to adopt amendments to the Blackfoot Crossing growth policy and zoning, both of which were approved without controversy.