Backlash against Prince George's County data centers continues
The Prince George's County Council voted to repeal fast-track exemptions that had allowed data center developers to bypass standard site plan reviews. The county's moratorium on new data centers remains in place, while a proposed hyperscale project in Landover is on hold.
Prince George's County officials are reversing a 2021 policy intended to attract data center development and compete with Northern Virginia. The County Council voted to eliminate fast-track exemptions, requiring developers to undergo standard site plan reviews, meet with neighbors, participate in Planning Board hearings and potentially receive final council approval.
The policy change follows sustained community backlash and the shelving of a proposed hyperscale data center in Landover. A county moratorium on new data center projects remains in effect, further limiting development while officials reconsider the county's approach.