In Calvert, Data Centers Will Have To Follow All Text Amendments Changes Until The Time Of Construction

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert’s Board of County Commissioners voted to tighten restrictions on data center building related to following text amendments at its May 5 meeting.

During the commissioners comment period, District 3 Commissioner Catherine Grasso proposed a moratorium on all data center development. In past meetings, Commissioner Mike Hart of District 1 proposed a two-year moratorium that was later struck down by the BOCC on April 7.

The commissioners continued to debate the issues with a moratorium — which would facilitate a full pause on any data center development — versus allowing developers to continue with their process, which would then, in turn, trigger the formal process. Commissioners Hance, Cox and Ireland said that allowing developers to continue gives more information for the county to work with and study and allows for more engagement.

Grasso and Hart argued that the public needs more time to understand environmental impacts before proceeding and worried that data centers would get approval based on old rules that don’t fully encompass the potential impact of data centers.

Commissioner Hance proposed a motion that would require data centers to follow any updated text amendments up until the time construction starts. This would hopefully lessen the possibility of data centers taking advantage of weaker regulations and getting “grandfathered” in based on them, even when new text amendments have been added.

The commissioners did a roll call vote and passed the measure 4-1. Commissioner Grasso was the only “no” vote.

“I think conceptually this sounds great, but I haven’t trusted the process so far. I’m gonna be a watchdog over this. I’d better not be screwed out of anything. I’d better be a part of this and the public better be a part of this as well,” Commissioner Grasso said.

“Folks, I’m just being sincere with you, I’m looking for anything to help. And I hope that this is what it says it is,” Hart said before moving on to thank correctional officers in the county.

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