New MoCo datacenter project - Councilmember doesn't want to regulate it.

[Anonymous]

To Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, Capitalism is more important than protecting the community.

https://wamu.org/story/25/10/28/what-a-massive-data-center-plan-means-for-montgomery-county/

Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, who represents the district where the data center would be built, doesn’t believe the council should change zoning rules retroactively for this proposed development.

“I believe in property rights,” said Balcombe. “When they purchased this land, they had zoning that allowed for this to happen. And so I am very cautious about changing zoning to prohibit something that people have a right to do with their property.”

When asked whether the county had updated noise ordinances to consider data center development, a major complaint in Virginia counties with data centers, she confirmed Montgomery has not. The county’s noise regulations are old, and don’t take into account developments like modern data centers. Still, Balcombe seemed hesitant to impose new restrictions that might complicate this proposed project.

[Anonymous]

Infuriately, the article doesn’t specify where this project will be. What part of “rural” MoCo are they talking about? Christ. What shitty writing.

[Anonymous]

Ever notice how council members in MoCo ALWAYS seem to do what’s against the wishes of their constituents?


JFC, this county….

[Anonymous]

It's up in Dickerson on the old coal plant property, which is too polluted for farming or residential development.

[Anonymous]

She is taking the right position. Changing zoning would be an unconstitutional taking and the county would need to compensate the land owner for their loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is taking the right position. Changing zoning would be an unconstitutional taking and the county would need to compensate the land owner for their loss.

Retroactively changing the zoning is the issue. With such a vast power, no property would be safe from the county government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is taking the right position. Changing zoning would be an unconstitutional taking and the county would need to compensate the land owner for their loss.

Retroactively changing the zoning is the issue. With such a vast power, no property would be safe from the county government.

Zoning rules are able to be amended and changed. The constitutional standard for a takings clause violation is that the zoning change results in a loss substantially all economic use. Amending the zoning regulations countywide to make height limits or lot coverage requirements for industrially zoned properties more restrictive would not be likely to be a takings clause violation. However, amending the zoning for this specific parcel in a targeted way would potentially be an illegal takings of private property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is taking the right position. Changing zoning would be an unconstitutional taking and the county would need to compensate the land owner for their loss.

Never mind that the electric power grid can't support this monster project, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Infuriately, the article doesn’t specify where this project will be. What part of “rural” MoCo are they talking about? Christ. What shitty writing.

At the old Dickerson power plant site.

If the site was suitable for a coal power plant, how is it unsuitable for a data center?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is taking the right position. Changing zoning would be an unconstitutional taking and the county would need to compensate the land owner for their loss.

Never mind that the electric power grid can't support this monster project, right?

Of course it can. The neighboring substation is probably why they picked the site.

You really think someone is going to build a data center that can't reliably operate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is taking the right position. Changing zoning would be an unconstitutional taking and the county would need to compensate the land owner for their loss.

Never mind that the electric power grid can't support this monster project, right?

Of course it can. The neighboring substation is probably why they picked the site.

You really think someone is going to build a data center that can't reliably operate?

^^^ This person literally thinks electricity is created at substations ^^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is taking the right position. Changing zoning would be an unconstitutional taking and the county would need to compensate the land owner for their loss.

Never mind that the electric power grid can't support this monster project, right?

Of course it can. The neighboring substation is probably why they picked the site.

You really think someone is going to build a data center that can't reliably operate?

^^^ This person literally thinks electricity is created at substations ^^^

Substation capacity is usually the limiting factor, not generation. Do you understand how the grid works?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Infuriately, the article doesn’t specify where this project will be. What part of “rural” MoCo are they talking about? Christ. What shitty writing.

At the old Dickerson power plant site.

If the site was suitable for a coal power plant, how is it unsuitable for a data center?

I am sure someone has their eye on some sweet, sweet Superfund grants that they will use to produce "affordable" housing or some public park no one will go near.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Infuriately, the article doesn’t specify where this project will be. What part of “rural” MoCo are they talking about? Christ. What shitty writing.

At the old Dickerson power plant site.

If the site was suitable for a coal power plant, how is it unsuitable for a data center?

I am sure someone has their eye on some sweet, sweet Superfund grants that they will use to produce "affordable" housing or some public park no one will go near.

I'm sure people would love to live next to the incinerator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Infuriately, the article doesn’t specify where this project will be. What part of “rural” MoCo are they talking about? Christ. What shitty writing.

At the old Dickerson power plant site.

If the site was suitable for a coal power plant, how is it unsuitable for a data center?

I am sure someone has their eye on some sweet, sweet Superfund grants that they will use to produce "affordable" housing or some public park no one will go near.

I'm sure people would love to live next to the incinerator.

They do in Alexandria.