Worcester Enacts Moratorium on Data Centers, Cable Landing Stations
WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. – Worcester County Commissioners have voted to enact a moratorium on the the submittal and issuance of permits for data centers and cable landing stations while new regulations are developed.
Established by Resolution No. 26-18 on Jul. 21, the moratorium is valid for 12 months, or until rescinded by the commissioners. The hold seeks to provide county staff with the time necessary to develop comprehensive zoning regulations governing the construction, location, and operation of emerging land uses. The resolution also places a temporary hold on all Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) proceedings related to these facilities.
“We want to get this right,” Commissioner President Ted Elder said. “Rather than reacting to future proposals, we’re taking the time to evaluate the impacts of data centers and cable landing stations and develop thoughtful regulations that protect Worcester County while providing clear standards for future development.”
Further, the moratorium applies to both pending and future applications while the County completes its review. WMDT previously reported on proposed plans by Virginia Beach-based developer, Globalinx, for a cable landing station in Berlin, just off of Stephen Decatur Highway. Many residents attended a public hearing in mid-May to voice their concerns, including the fact that it could be around 100 feet from the Purnell family cemetery, a historic cemetery established in the late 1860s.
The announcement also comes as counties on the Eastern Shore continue to debate proposals for constructing data centers. Just a week before Worcester Commissioners passed their moratorium, the Caroline County Board of Commissioners moved to do something similar, saying they needed extra time to review proposals filed in unincorporated parts of the County. Further, they stressed the importance of learning more about data centers’ impacts to the electrical grid, water consumption, noise, environmental concerns, and infrastructure capacity.
In a statement released on Jul. 14, the Caroline Commissioners said, in part:
“We have also discussed the importance of establishing clear zoning regulations before an application is ever submitted. Those discussions include where data centers may be appropriate, what performance standards should apply, and what level of review should be required before a project moves forward. To support that effort, staff has been directed to continue researching how other jurisdictions have addressed data center development, review existing ordinances, meet with utility providers, and work with legal counsel on potential regulatory options. Those options may include zoning amendments, enhanced review requirements, and a temporary moratorium while those regulations are developed.”
As a result of Worcester County’s moratorium, no appeals or special exception requests involving data centers or cable landing stations are currently scheduled before the BZA. Applications previously submitted for BZA consideration have been placed on hold until the moratorium is lifted.
