Data centers are taking center stage in Towson on Thursday night, as the Baltimore County Planning Board opens the floor to residents on a study that could decide where - and even whether - the facilities will be allowed across the county. The board meets from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in Hearing Room 104 of the Jefferson Building in Towson, with a rally set for 4:15 p.m. outside before testimony begins. The hearing follows the County Council’s passage of Bill 3-26 earlier this year, which orders a deep dive into data centers’ electricity and public water use and sets a deadline for the board’s recommendations. Neighbors, environmental advocates, and industry voices are expected to square off over jobs, noise, and the strain on local utilities.
How to attend
Residents can testify in person in Hearing Room 104 at the Jefferson Building, 105 W. Chesapeake Ave. in Towson, or log in virtually through a Webex webinar. As reported by WBALTV, the station is sharing the meeting link and webinar password. WBAL also notes the 4:15 p.m. rally outside the Jefferson Building ahead of the 5 p.m. start. The Planning Board will accept both in-person and online comments during the 5 to 7:30 p.m. hearing.
What the study will examine
Under Bill 3-26, the Planning Board must deliver a report to the County Council by Oct. 1 that, according to Baltimore County Council materials, will provide a general assessment of the average electricity and public water usage of data centers and compare that usage to other permitted activities in similar zoning districts. The legislation also calls on the board to recommend siting rules, size and bulk limits, permitting changes, and community outreach standards, and to factor in potential effects on underserved areas and agricultural land. While that work is underway, the bill places a temporary hold on new data center permits through Jan. 1, 2027.
Regional reaction
Concerns about water consumption, power demand, and noise are not stopping at the county line. The Harford County Council voted May 19 to take up County Executive Bob Cassilly’s proposed data center ban as emergency legislation and set a June 9 public hearing, according to Baltimore Fishbowl. Earlier coverage, republished at GovTech from the Baltimore Sun, points to a proposed 42-acre, 150-megawatt Woodlawn data center project as one spark for the broader backlash and calls for tighter rules. The debate has steadily shifted from short pauses on permits to long-term decisions about exactly where these facilities belong.
What comes next
Once tonight’s testimony wraps, the Planning Board will draft its study and send recommendations to the County Council. A council workgroup is slated to meet on June 5 to begin reviewing those findings, as reported by WBALTV. The final report is due Oct. 1, and council members can then weigh possible zoning and permitting changes - up to and including a local ban - according to Baltimore County Council documents. Residents who want their views on the record should plan to arrive early to sign up for a speaking slot or get logged into the webinar before the hearing starts.
