Short version
The land BoxMiner has been pitched on is publicly owned. The City Council can ask that no purchase-and-sale agreement be signed until the buyer is identified, the maximum buildout is capped in writing, assignment rights are restricted, and the public has had a standalone hearing. This is exactly the moment to do that.
The City of La Pine says no land sale and no data-center project has been approved as of its May 2 release.
Deschutes County would need to approve the final sale because the land is county-owned.
On March 25 the Council voted unanimously to direct staff to continue the purchase-and-sale process for tax lot 221040000010. The city later characterized this as non-binding.
City staff asked the county to consider purchase-and-sale provisions that could limit terms or require restrictions related to city water/sewer resources, environmental impacts, and proposed revenue.
What officials should answer
- 01 What is the maximum buildout in megawatts that any sale agreement will allow?
- 02 What transfer and assignment restrictions will prevent flipping the site to an unknown operator?
- 03 Will the sale be conditioned on a standalone public hearing before signing?