Montgomery County Council committees will review competing proposals on Wednesday, July 22, that would limit the development of data centers. The Economic Development Committee will consider two bills establishing temporary moratoriums on data center permits, while the Planning, Housing and Parks Committee will review a zoning amendment that would define data centers, restrict where they can be built, and establish minimum location standards across the county. Full agenda below courtesy Montgomery County Government:
“Economic Development Committee will review two proposed data center moratorium bills and Planning, Housing and Parks Committee will review a zoning measure establishing clear definitions and limitations on data centers
The Economic Development (ECON) Committee will meet on Wednesday, July 22 at 9:30 a.m. to review Expedited Bill 19-26, Buildings – Moratorium on Permits for Data Centers – Established and Expedited Bill 24-26, Buildings – Building Permits – Data Center Moratorium.
The members of the ECON Committee include Chair and Council President Natali Fani-González, Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe and Councilmembers Evan Glass and Laurie-Anne Sayles.
The Planning, Housing and Park (PHP) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to review Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-01, Commercial Uses – Data Center.
The members of the PHP Committee include Chair Andrew Friedson, Council President Fani-González and Councilmember Will Jawando.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Expedited Bill 19-26, Buildings – Moratorium on Permits for Data Centers – Established
Review: The ECON Committee will review Expedited Bill 19-26, Buildings – Moratorium on Permits for Data Centers – Established, which would establish a temporary moratorium on permits for a data center issued by the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement. The moratorium would suspend permit approval processing for six months after the bill would take effect. The aim of the bill is to allow the County time to study, evaluate and adopt appropriate laws, zoning requirements or regulations governing the permitting of data centers in the County.
The lead sponsor of Expedited Bill 19-26 is Councilmember Evan Glass.
Expedited Bill 24-26, Buildings – Building Permits – Data Center Moratorium
Review: The ECON Committee will review Expedited Bill 24-26, Buildings – Building Permits – Data Center Moratorium. The legislation would define a data center and prohibit the Department of Permitting Services (DPS) from issuing a building permit for a data center. This prohibition would sunset two years after the effective date.
The lead sponsor of Expedited Bill 24-26 is Councilmember Jawando. Councilmember Kristin Mink is a cosponsor of Expedited Bill 24-26.
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-01, Commercial Uses – Data Center
Review: The PHP Committee will review Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-01, Commercial Uses – Data Center. ZTA 26-01 would amend the Zoning Ordinance to define data center as a new use subject to zoning requirements, specify the zones where data centers may locate in the County as conditional uses, and establish minimum standards for the location of data centers in the County.
The lead sponsors of ZTA 26-01 are Council President Fani-González, Council Vice President Balcombe and Councilmember Sayles.”
