Federalsburg becomes first Eastern Shore jurisdiction to ban data centers
The Federalsburg Town Council in Maryland has unanimously approved an ordinance to ban data centers within town limits, making it the first jurisdiction on the Eastern Shore to do so. This decision follows significant public opposition to a proposed data center project by Wright Road LLC and comes after the town had previously enacted a three-year data center moratorium. The council's action overruled a recommendation from the town's Planning and Zoning Commission, which had advised against the ordinance as written.
The Federalsburg Town Council has unanimously passed Ordinance 2026-07, implementing an outright ban on data centers within town limits. This decision, made with a 4-0 vote, marks Federalsburg as the first Eastern Shore jurisdiction and one of only two major jurisdictions statewide (along with Harford County) to permanently prohibit data centers. The ban was a direct response to intense public opposition following a recent data center proposal by Wright Road LLC for a 200-acre site off Wright Road.
The council's action on Wednesday, which occurred in the absence of Mayor Kim Abner, overrode a prior recommendation from the town's Planning and Zoning Commission. The commission had advised against the ordinance as written, citing the need for more specific language regarding the definition of a data center. Council members, including Brandy James, emphasized the urgency of passing the ban.
This permanent ban follows a three-year data center moratorium that the council enacted on August 3. Residents, such as Carmalie Payne and David Yanez, expressed strong opposition, with Yanez becoming more against the project after a private meeting with the developer where he felt his technical questions were not adequately answered. Conversely, resident Gary B. and Planning Commission member Stephen Parks voiced support for data centers, citing potential revenue benefits for the town, which has faced significant debt.
Parks, who joined the commission to address local development issues, criticized the council for what he perceived as a "preemptive" ban, arguing that the moratorium period was intended for further study and responsible planning. The town is also considering allowing residents to vote on the data center issue via an election ballot question.