Frederick County Executive Navigates Data Center Zoning Amidst Political Opposition and Legal Battles
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater has faced strong community opposition and political fallout over data center development, particularly concerning a controversial overlay zoning change. Despite legal rulings upholding the zoning by disallowing a public referendum, Fitzwater later enacted a pause on new data center applications. The lead developer, Catellus, has pledged $110 million in community benefits to mitigate local concerns.
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced $110 million in community benefits from Catellus, the lead developer for a data center campus on the former Eastalco property near Adamstown. The project's footprint was reduced from 18.3 million to 15 million square feet, with an 80% reduction in potable water use and the creation of a nature reserve.
The data center development has generated significant community opposition in Frederick County, fueled by concerns over water usage, potential contamination, and electricity costs. After initial attempts to introduce a floating zone requiring parcel-by-parcel Council approval, Fitzwater's administration removed this mechanism. The County Council subsequently created and adopted the Critical Digital Infrastructure Overlay Zone (Bill 25-09, Ordinance 26-01-001) in 2025-2026, covering 2,614.9 acres north of Adamstown.
A public referendum challenging the overlay zone garnered over 21,000 validated signatures, but was ultimately blocked by the Frederick County Circuit Court and the Maryland Supreme Court, which ruled that zoning ordinances are not subject to referendum under the county charter. This legal outcome, coupled with political repercussions in local elections where data center opposition candidates gained ground, prompted Fitzwater to announce a pause on new data center applications on July 1, running through December 31, aligning with the state's Data Center Impact Analysis.
The article also details controversies surrounding Frederick County Chief of Staff Patrick Murray, including a past investigation into abuse of power during his tenure in Baltimore County and a subsequent $100,000 settlement. This history raises questions about what Fitzwater knew during Murray's hiring and promotion, further complicating the political landscape surrounding data center development in Frederick County.