UPDATE (Oct. 9, 2025): The data-center zoning briefing was rescheduled and presented during the Board of County Commissioners’ afternoon session the same day, where commissioners approved moving ZTA #25-187 forward to the next phase, authorizing staff to present it to the Planning Commission.
LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Board of Commissioners’ morning session scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, was rescheduled, and the data-center zoning briefing was moved to the afternoon session. One of the key agenda items — a staff briefing on a draft zoning text amendment (ZTA 25-187) to regulate data center development —was presented and approved to advance to the Planning Commission.
The presentation and draft bill attached to the meeting’s agenda laid out how the county proposes to define, permit and conditionally regulate data center projects.
According to the staff presentation, a typical large data center could bring significant economic benefits to Charles County. The project could generate more than 5,000 jobs during the construction phase, contribute about $775 million in overall economic activity and produce $18 million in state tax revenue while being built. Once operational, the facility could support roughly 500 permanent jobs, provide an estimated $31 million in annual compensation and generate about $14 million in recurring annual state tax revenue.
Where Data Centers Could Be Allowed
The draft zoning text amendment would add “Data Center” (Use 7.01.130) to the zoning ordinance as a permitted-with-conditions use in the following zones:
- Business Park (BP)
- General Industrial (IG)
- Heavy Industrial (IH)
- Planned Unit Development (PUD) industrial areas
- Low-Density Residential (RL) — only on parcels at least 50 acres in size that include or border a regulated public utility facility rated 230 kilovolts or higher.
Staff noted that the commercial, industrial and qualifying RL tracts together make up about 2 percent of the county’s total land area, and that data centers will not be allowed in agricultural zones.
Proposed Rules For Future Data Center Sites
Both the staff presentation and the draft zoning bill outlined detailed requirements aimed at reducing impacts on nearby neighborhoods and the environment.
Key Conditions from the Presentation and Draft Bill:
- Open space: At least 30% of the tract must remain open space.
- Setbacks: 200 feet from all property lines and 400 feet from any existing or approved homes.
- Building design: Must include architectural façade treatments such as articulated features, recessed sections or changes in materials, texture or color to avoid blank walls.
- Landscaping and fencing: Bufferyard landscaping 25–50 feet wide with berms and compatible masonry, vinyl or wood fencing along residential edges and public road frontage.
- Lighting: All exterior lighting must be down-shielded to prevent glare on nearby properties and roads.
- Water use: Nonpotable water should be prioritized for cooling to limit potable water usage.
- Parking: Limited to 2.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of building floor area; no required minimum.
Additional RL-Zone Requirements:
- Minimum size: Projects must be on at least 50 acres.
- Public meeting: Before submitting a plan, developers must hold a public meeting before the Planning Commission, giving residents a chance to review the initial site plan and share concerns about traffic, drainage, natural resources, buffering, lighting, noise, cultural or historic sites, and other zoning issues.
Next Steps In The Public Process
The county commissioners approved moving ZTA #25-187 forward to the next phase, authorizing staff to present it to the Planning Commission.
The projected timeline outlined in the presentation is:
- Planning Commission briefing and set hearing date: October 2025
- Planning Commission public hearing: November 2025
- Planning Commission work sessions: December 2025 – January 2026
- Planning Commission recommendation to commissioners: January – February 2026
- Commissioners’ own briefing and public hearing: Spring 2026
Dates are projected and subject to change.
Other Items Rescheduled
Morning agenda briefings that were rescheduled include:
Residents can view both the full staff presentation and the complete draft zoning text amendment by visiting the Oct. 7 commissioners’ meeting agenda on Charles County Government CCGTV.
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Want to stop the building and the data centers? STOP VOTING FOR DEMOCRATS!!!
More over loading the roads idiots in CH. CO. CAN’T THANK