Calvert County Will Discuss Data Center Moratorium At April 7 Meeting

On April 7, the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is slated to discuss a proposed 24-month data center moratorium, an initiative brought forth by Commissioner Mike Hart during a March 3 meeting. The proposal emerged in direct response to a presentation by Amazon regarding a potential data center development in Lusby, located within Hart's District 1. While the BOCC approved a motion to commence the process of establishing a moratorium, a formal vote on its enactment has not yet occurred. According to a memo from Planning and Zoning Director Jason Brinkley, the upcoming discussion will focus on the procedural aspects of creating and advancing the moratorium, aiming to inform both the board and the public. The Planning and Zoning department is tasked with drafting the moratorium, which will include seeking guidance from the BOCC on its specific language, the underlying justification and intent, its proposed duration, and the precise scope of actions and approvals it will prohibit. Commissioner Hart's initial suggestion called for an immediate halt on all data center-related approvals, permits, rezoning, and construction until a thorough environmental study assessing land, water, and air impacts is completed and publicly presented. Amazon and Natelli Holdings are the two companies currently in discussions with Calvert County regarding data center projects.