We received an email newsletter this morning from the Council President reiterating a misunderstanding:
"Currently, there are no specific rules for data centers and they are allowed in every zone in the County."
The first part is true - there are no rules governing data centers but that is because the second part is false - they are not in the zoning code and as a result can not be sited in the County - yet.
The Department of Permitting Services sent guidance to the Planning Chair on June 12th -
"Data Centers are not specifically listed in the Zoning Ordinance, do not fall within any listed use, and are not similar in impact, nature, function, and duration to any listed uses. Therefore, Data Centers are not currently approved uses in Montgomery County."
"Data Centers are not specifically listed in the Zoning Ordinance, do not fall within any listed use, and are not similar in impact, nature, function, and duration to any listed uses. Therefore, Data Centers are not currently approved uses in Montgomery County."
In fact, the proposed data center ZTA the Council President is co-sponsoring is not protecting us from Data Centers that can go anywhere - it is opening up the county to Data Centers that are currently a prohibited use and allowing them in all industrial zones (2000+ acres) - i.e- every Council district.
And the ZTA is moving quickly - we've heard from Councilmembers that after a PHP committee hearing on July 22nd, they want to have a vote on the ZTA by October 31st.
What is the rush? Hundreds of speakers and many thousands of emails from concerned residents have urged a meaningful pause of 2 years - like PG County just enacted, along with moratoriums in Baltimore City/County, Washington, Carrol, Howard, Queen Annes and an outright ban in Hartford County.
We understand that the State's study of Data Centers planned to be wrapped in September will now not be done till December. Why are we rushing ahead of hearing the results? Troubling studies on the impacts of data centers and the health of our Potomac are stacking up (Infrasound - a new data center problem). Where is the cost- benefit analysis?
We want to be clear - MCA and our broad coalition insist that a 6 month pause is breathing room - there must now be no less than a two year pause to engage stakeholders and independent experts. There is no way to get this done before October.
There is still time to write to the Councilmembers - please take a moment with our letter writing template to make your concerns heard.
And the ZTA is moving quickly - we've heard from Councilmembers that after a PHP committee hearing on July 22nd, they want to have a vote on the ZTA by October 31st.
What is the rush? Hundreds of speakers and many thousands of emails from concerned residents have urged a meaningful pause of 2 years - like PG County just enacted, along with moratoriums in Baltimore City/County, Washington, Carrol, Howard, Queen Annes and an outright ban in Hartford County.
We understand that the State's study of Data Centers planned to be wrapped in September will now not be done till December. Why are we rushing ahead of hearing the results? Troubling studies on the impacts of data centers and the health of our Potomac are stacking up (Infrasound - a new data center problem). Where is the cost- benefit analysis?
We want to be clear - MCA and our broad coalition insist that a 6 month pause is breathing room - there must now be no less than a two year pause to engage stakeholders and independent experts. There is no way to get this done before October.
There is still time to write to the Councilmembers - please take a moment with our letter writing template to make your concerns heard.
