July 22, 2026 - PHP Committee Worksession

The Montgomery County Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee held a worksession on July 22, 2026, to discuss Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-01 concerning the definition and regulation of large data centers. The committee reviewed a global amendment to define large data centers as those with an aggregate monthly electricity demand of at least 25 megawatts and to prohibit their use countywide pending further study. This action aligns with an 18-month moratorium on large data centers recently approved by the Economic Development Committee and scheduled for full council consideration. The amendment includes a transition clause applying the prohibition to any applications without a building permit before the effective date. The committee unanimously approved the global amendment, the transition language, and the amended ZTA. The discussions emphasized the need for careful consideration of environmental impacts, energy and water use, noise, and community protections, with forthcoming reports from the Office of Legislative Oversight and the state expected to inform future policy decisions.