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Frederick County Council establishes data-center overlay, limits eligible acreage to about 2,600
Summary
President Young signed an ordinance and resolution creating a data-center overlay that reduces eligible land in Frederick County to roughly 2,600 acres and took effect immediately; the County Attorney advised the decision is not subject to referendum. Commissioners discussed land-use trade-offs and local policy options.
President Michael Young signed an ordinance and a resolution establishing a data-center overlay that reduces the land eligible for data-center development in Frederick County to approximately 2,600 acres, Council Member Renee Knapp told the Frederick County Sustainability Commission at its Jan. 21 meeting. Knapp said the action took effect immediately and that the Office of the County Attorney advised the overlay decision is not subject to referendum.
The announcement prompted commissioners to frame the overlay as an example of sustainability trade-offs. Commissioner Mark Sankey tied the measure to the broader challenge of balancing development and environmental stewardship, saying such decisions often require giving ground in one area to protect another. Knapp and others urged municipalities, including the City of Frederick, to consider their own land-use questions before development pressures increase.
Knapp recommended directing inquiries about legal interpretation to the Office of the County Attorney; the legal opinion she referenced has not been independently reviewed or reprinted in commission materials. The commission did not vote on the overlay; Knapp’s report was an informational update about County Council action.
Background and next steps: commissioners and staff agreed the overlay narrows development options and may prompt local jurisdictions to reassess permitting and siting criteria for future data-center proposals. The commission discussed the need for continued public engagement, monitoring of technical developments in data-center technology, and collaboration with municipal governments to shape local standards.
The commission recorded no formal motion related to the overlay during the meeting; questions about specific parcels and legal details were referred to the County Attorney’s Office.
