Prince George’s planning board hearing to consider zoning changes for data centers
The Prince George's County Planning Board is holding a hearing to consider permanent zoning ordinance changes for data centers, following an approved two-year moratorium. These changes would determine if data centers can be built in Agricultural-Residential and Residential-Estate zones. There is growing public pushback regarding potential impacts, especially in economically disadvantaged communities.
The Prince George's County Planning Board is set to hold a crucial hearing to discuss permanent changes to the county's zoning ordinance concerning data centers. This meeting follows a previously approved two-year moratorium that temporarily halted new data center projects in the county.
The current discussion focuses on whether to permit data centers in areas currently zoned as Agricultural-Residential (AR) and Residential-Estate (RE). A staff report from the Planning Department has indicated that allowing data centers in these zones would conflict with their intended purpose of preserving agricultural land and residential neighborhoods.
Public opposition is mounting, with residents expressing concerns about various potential impacts of data centers, particularly if they are sited in economically disadvantaged communities. One resident anonymously voiced a desire for a comprehensive study on the matter. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m., but its specific placement on the agenda remains uncertain.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Prince George’s County Planning Board Hearing.