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Planning commission reviews proposed data center conditions amid community concern
Summary
Planning staff presented text amendment 26-23 to add conditions for data centers including a 400-foot residential setback, a ban on using groundwater for cooling, water‑services plans, EPA Tier 4 generator standards, and noise compliance; commissioners and residents pressed staff on grandfathering, stormwater standards and low‑frequency noise research.
Planning staff asked the Calvert County Planning Commission on March 18 to review draft text amendment 26-23, which would add conditions for data center uses and return compiled commission feedback to the Board of County Commissioners.
"No projects have been submitted to Calvert County for review, for view, for consideration, and anything that would be has to go through the exact same process as anything else," Jason Brinkler, director of planning and zoning, told commissioners as staff explained the local approval pathway for large projects and the informational meeting requirement in the project's election district. Rachel Shea, Deputy Director of Zoning, summarized the proposed standards, including a 400-foot setback from parcels with residential buildings, façade-treatment expectations and a requirement that "no groundwater well shall be drilled or used to supply water for cooling or humidification." The draft would also require a professionally stamped water services plan estimating average and peak daily water demand, metering and annual reporting, and reapproval for expansions that increase projected cooling water demand by more than 10 percent.
Commissioners pressed staff on enforcement, grandfathering and whether state stormwater standards would be tightened locally to reflect climate change. Staff said county leadership is considering a revised definition for the 100-year storm and that projects must still meet the county adequate public facilities ordinance where applicable. On emissions, staff proposed that stationary diesel generators serving server rooms "shall be certified to meet US EPA tier 4 final emission standards or equivalent emissions performance" and comply with Maryland Department of the Environment permitting. Several commissioners and speakers urged staff to study low-frequency noise science and whether the county's 75-decibel industrial threshold adequately captures persistent hums that can travel long distances.
Public commenters questioned water withdrawals, thermal discharges, light pollution and long-term decommissioning, and asked for stronger mitigation conditions (for example, green-cooling preferences and decommissioning bonds). Planning staff requested that commissioners email comments by April 2; staff will compile comments and return to the commission at its April meeting for a decision about forwarding formal recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.
