Frederick County Council Schedules Second Public Hearing on Data Center Zoning Plans

Frederick County Council has scheduled a second public hearing regarding proposed data centers due to significant community interest. The initial hearing lasted over six hours, revealing a divided opinion among residents about rezoning and construction plans for data centers on land previously occupied by an aluminum factory.

The council is considering measures to expand zoning for data centers, with one proposal allowing over 2,500 acres and another capping it at 1,500 acres. Concerns raised include increased electricity costs, noise, air pollution, and disruption of the rural character of the area.

Critics argue that the majority of residents oppose the plans. The council has been managing data center development since a developer purchased the land in 2021 and approved a bill in 2022, maintaining a current cap of 1% of the county for data center construction, which both proposals would remain below.