Residents and officials press county over proposed Landover data center; Glen Arden leaders urge strong community input

Residents, a state senator and Glen Arden councilmembers raised concerns Sept. 15 about a proposed data center planned for the Landover Mall area and urged greater community engagement and county-level review.

Councilwoman Jones reported attending recent local meetings about the planned data center and described community worries about noise, water and electricity demand and the project's proximity to residential neighborhoods. State Senator Benson, who attended the council meeting, urged close coordination with the State Highway Administration on traffic and infrastructure and asked city staff for an update on the police station construction before she and other state officials meet in Annapolis.

Residents said the project site borders Glen Arden neighborhoods and that community members organized petition and outreach efforts. Jones said a county-level qualified data center task force is studying proposals and that one councilmember on the county task force intends to file legislation to slow the approval timeline so communities receive full notice; the task force's report was described at the meeting as due Nov. 30.

Council members emphasized that the county executive and county council will make final land-use decisions for the mall site. The council and attendees urged residents to attend forthcoming county meetings and encouraged staff to use the city's communications channels to circulate information about county hearings and project filings. Council leaders said the city would not make unilateral land-use decisions for county property but would support residents in making their concerns known to county decision-makers.

No formal council resolution about the data center was introduced at the Sept. 15 meeting; members asked staff to publish meeting notices and to coordinate with county representatives on upcoming public hearings.