Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González, Vice President Marilyn Balcombe and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles announced a multi-pronged approach today regarding data center legislation.
In June, County Executive Marc Elrich announced an executive order imposing a six-month moratorium on data center development in Montgomery County. Following extensive discussion and public input, Council President Fani-González, Vice President Balcombe and Councilmember Sayles sent a letter to colleagues proposing a plan to allow additional space and time to develop comprehensive safeguards on hyperscale data centers. In addition to the executive order, they are proposing that the Council codify the moratorium through legislation.
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The Economic Development (ECON) Committee will meet on Wednesday, July 22, to review two data center moratorium bills (Bill 19-26 and Bill 24-26). If the committee favors one of the bills, it will proceed to full Council for a work session and action on Tuesday, July 28.
Also on July 22, the Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee will review the Data Center Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-01, which would establish clear definitions and limitations on data centers. The PHP Committee will review an amendment, put forth by Fani-González, Balcombe and Sayles, that would prohibit hyperscale data centers in all zones. The amended ZTA will serve as a bridge between the current zoning ordinance and the future ZTA that will comprehensively address all the complex issues.
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