Frederick County would lock in development rules for a proposed data center for at least eight years — and potentially 13 — under an agreement that promises the county $110 million for schools, parks and other public projects.
The proposed deal with Quantum Maryland, LLC, announced Tuesday by County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, is drawing criticism from some residents and elected officials who say the county is giving the developer long-term protections that could limit the authority of future county leaders. The extension requires Frederick County Council approval.
Among the promised investments are $30 million for renovations to Carroll Manor Elementary School and another $30 million to build Adamstown Regional Park. Fitzwater, a Democrat running for reelection in November, said the unprecedented size of the agreement reflects an effort to secure substantial community benefits from the developer.
“The county has never, ever done something of this magnitude, and so we really wanted to make sure that we got absolutely as much investment as we could out of the land developer, and that the investments were aligned with what we heard from the community that they expect and deserve,” Fitzwater said in an interview with The Sun on Wednesday.
As stated in the agreement, also known as a Developer Rights and Responsibilities Agreement or DRRA, the developer would be protected from rezonings, downzonings, or land removals that would prevent the completion of the data center campus. The county also agrees not to hinder applications or approvals for the property, and to pay for its legal defense of those approvals for the length of the agreement.
Read the full story on The Baltimore Sun’s website.
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