From a zillow listing in Ashton - land speculation has begun, locking up farmland needed for the next generation of farmers to get started. Time for a 2 year data center pause.
We were shocked to receive an email (huge thanks, Nadine!) with this Zillow link. 11 acres of farmland in Ashton, the Eastern County zoned RC (Rural Cluster) were being advertised as suitable for a data center or commercial solar.
From the County code: "The intent of the RC zone is to provide designated areas of the County for a compatible mixture of agricultural uses and very low-density residential development, to promote agriculture, and to protect scenic and environmentally sensitive areas."
Can they do that? Yes and maybe.
After a heartbreaking bill passed in Annapolis in 2025 and our coalition organized an unsucessful statewide ballot referendum effort, commercial solar and battery storage is allowed on even protected farmland and prime soils across the state (but notably not land encumbered with easements).
Currently, data centers are not allowed for in the county code, but a ZTA (zoning text amendment) is moving forward to allow data centers of any size in all industrial zones - over 2000 acres of the county (see: A Data Center in Every Council District?). Montgomery County's planning board director has said that the proposal as written would allow 12 hyperscale data centers across the county. It is too early to say if data centers could be sited on farmland in our county - like they are in Virginia and many other places. But as evidenced here, the speculation has begun - locking up farmland that is needed for its intended purpose.
Since this Zillow listing was posted just two months ago, we've had 8 new applicants to our Land Link program - seasoned farmers seeking long term leases in the county. These 8 are seeking to join the 50+ farmers seeking land on the site. The majority of farmers in the program are farmers of color, a large portion are immigrants and almost all have plans to donate a substantial amount of their harvest to local food banks.
This is one more reason we need a pause on data centers - not moving ahead until there are clear guidelines about where and how data centers can be sited. Our broad coalition is seeking strong regulations that protect air, water, farmland and our climate. A two year moratorium is the way to get there with transparency and resident engagement.
We are hearing from councilmembers that the ZTA could have a vote by October of this year. That is simply not enough time to craft responsible policies.
Take a moment to write your councilmembers in support of a two year moratorium.
From the County code: "The intent of the RC zone is to provide designated areas of the County for a compatible mixture of agricultural uses and very low-density residential development, to promote agriculture, and to protect scenic and environmentally sensitive areas."
Can they do that? Yes and maybe.
After a heartbreaking bill passed in Annapolis in 2025 and our coalition organized an unsucessful statewide ballot referendum effort, commercial solar and battery storage is allowed on even protected farmland and prime soils across the state (but notably not land encumbered with easements).
Currently, data centers are not allowed for in the county code, but a ZTA (zoning text amendment) is moving forward to allow data centers of any size in all industrial zones - over 2000 acres of the county (see: A Data Center in Every Council District?). Montgomery County's planning board director has said that the proposal as written would allow 12 hyperscale data centers across the county. It is too early to say if data centers could be sited on farmland in our county - like they are in Virginia and many other places. But as evidenced here, the speculation has begun - locking up farmland that is needed for its intended purpose.
Since this Zillow listing was posted just two months ago, we've had 8 new applicants to our Land Link program - seasoned farmers seeking long term leases in the county. These 8 are seeking to join the 50+ farmers seeking land on the site. The majority of farmers in the program are farmers of color, a large portion are immigrants and almost all have plans to donate a substantial amount of their harvest to local food banks.
This is one more reason we need a pause on data centers - not moving ahead until there are clear guidelines about where and how data centers can be sited. Our broad coalition is seeking strong regulations that protect air, water, farmland and our climate. A two year moratorium is the way to get there with transparency and resident engagement.
We are hearing from councilmembers that the ZTA could have a vote by October of this year. That is simply not enough time to craft responsible policies.
Take a moment to write your councilmembers in support of a two year moratorium.
