top of page

In this newsletter:

1. July 20: Sugarloaf Overlay Hearing at the Planning Commission

2. Data Centers: Please plan to attend the meeting on JULY 27 

3. You Make a Difference: The Costs of the Sugarloaf Alliance Mission

 

​

1. Sugarloaf Overlay Hearing on July 20

 

The Frederick County Planning Commission will hold a hearing at 6:30pm on Thursday, July 20 about the Sugarloaf Overlay. The public is invited to attend and offer comments. Those of you living in the Sugarloaf Plan area should have received notices by mail from the county Office of Planning informing you of this hearing, including a copy of the proposed Overlay language. 

 

The Sugarloaf Alliance urges you to support the current Overlay language by sending an email to the Planning Commission  (planningcommission@frederickcountymd.gov). The Alliance plans to thank the Commissioners for:

  • their recognition that the Sugarloaf Plan and Overlay District are preservation plans (not development plans);

  • keeping the Sugarloaf Plan and Overlay boundaries at I-270; and

  • supporting forest, waterways and natural habitats protections and strengthening the Overlay’s timber harvesting regulations.

 

Context: On 4/19 the Planning Commission voted 6-1 to approve sending the current version of the Overlay to the state for their 60-day review prior to holding a pubic hearing. That review is complete: the state’s comments are primarily aimed at clarifying a few things. Following the 7/20 public hearing, the Planning Commission may schedule more discussions to consider the state and pubic comments. Ultimately they will vote on whether or not to recommend the Overlay to the County Council for their consideration.

 

Meeting Details: The Planning Commission hearing will take place on Thursday, 7/20, 6:30pm, at Winchester Hall, 12 East Church St., Frederick. You can attend in person or watch the hearing on FCGTV. Comments will be accepted in person, via email (planningcommission@frederickcountymd.gov), and by phone (855-925-2801, meeting code 8768).

 

2. Data Centers: Please plan to attend the meeting on JULY 27

Quantum Loophole Wants to Cross More Floodplain

 

On Thursday, July 27, 7:00pm, at Winchester Hall (12 East Church St.), the Frederick County Board of Appeals will consider the twice-delayed application by Quantum Loophole for a special exception that would allow them to drill through floodplain in Frederick County to run QLoop cable to connect data centers in Frederick County with data centers in northern VA. Sugarloaf Alliance opposes granting an exception at this time. There should be no consideration given to this application to drill and operate in the floodplain until:

  • the project is fully in compliance with all applicable regulations; 

  • Quantum Loophole proves that the river and floodplain crossings are the least risky points; and

  • Quantum Loophole proves that changing their route to avoid sensitive areas would cause them “exceptional hardship.”

 

Our concern is that, already, in these first phases of construction, Quantum Loophole has been cited for multiple QLoop construction violations. Their recent illegal dumping into Tuscarora Creek of presumed contaminated water is in addition to Quantum’s earlier ecological damage during its ongoing QLoop project’s floodplain and river crossings. (The Qloop Montgomery County sites were inspected 19 times by MDE and multiple violations were recorded each time.) 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

Photo taken by MDE inspector near the C&O Canal.  Entry point of bore mud flow into the waterway. GDH 2/2/23.

 

We have assembled the Environmental Covenant and MDE inspection reports for the Quantum Loophole here.

Sugarloaf Alliance suggests that the number of regulations Quantum Loophole has already violated, so early in the construction process, demonstrates their disregard for the environment and for their neighbors.

 

Context: Why is Sugarloaf Alliance involved? 

  • The QLoop passes through a corner of the Sugarloaf Plan area.

  • Our mission includes environmental preservation, especially in southern Frederick County. We oppose the manner in which data center construction has begun.

  • This is our first introduction to the new wave of data center construction in Frederick County. In 2020, Frederick County created a map of proposed data center sitings across 9,400 acres in southwest Frederick County,* including in and near the Sugarloaf Plan area. We’ve seen and heard QL ducking-and-dodging in their public responses to poor dealings with property owners and the environment. Is this how the industry treats the environment and residents? The hearing is an opportunity to tell them it’s not ok!

 

*You’ll find the map in the first few pages of the documents Sugarloaf Alliance linked above and obtained through our public information access requests.

 

Here’s what you can do:

 

Here’s what the petition says:

 

In light of the illegal environmental damage that Quantum Loophole already has caused, we the undersigned call on the Frederick County Board of Appeals to deny Quantum Loophole "a Special Exception to allow Activity within a Floodplain.” Before a special exception is approved, Quantum Loophole must first:

·      come into full compliance with all environmental regulations;

·      demonstrate that the requested QLoop alignment is the ‘minimum needed’ and the lowest risk possible; and

·      prove that denial of the request would cause ‘exceptional hardship’.

 

Please note that change.org will encourage you to make contributions. Be aware that those contributions go to change.org. Sugarloaf Alliance welcomes your tax deductible donations through our website, sugarloaf-alliance.org/donations. 

 

  • If you can, please attend the 7/27 hearing. Whether or not you testify, your presence helps send the message. The Board of Appeals needs to know that the community is paying attention. The hearing will be held on Thursday, July 27, 7:00pm, at Winchester Hall, 12 East Church St., Frederick. Plan to wear green. (We still have some Sugarloaf Alliance t-shirts available if you’d like one - mostly large and extra large.)

 

Say you’re offering comments on Quantum Loophole’s application for a special exception.

In your own words, say you oppose granting a special exception at this time. There should be no consideration given to this application to drill and operate in the floodplains until:

    • the project is fully in compliance with all applicable regulations; 

    • Quantum Loophole proves that the river and floodplain crossings are the least risky points; and

    • Quantum Loophole proves that changing their route to avoid sensitive areas would cause them “exceptional hardship.”

 

3. You Make a Difference: The Costs of the Sugarloaf Alliance Mission

Sugarloaf Alliance is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our missions - primarily related to southern Frederick County - are preservation and environmental protection, smarter growth, and transparency in government.  Our activity mostly involves research, networking and communication to our mailing list, our partners, and the general public through our newsletters, website, social media, local press, and comments to county officials in writing and in person. Our mailing list currently numbers nearly 650 people.

 

Most of those activities don’t cost the organization very much, but our legal pursuits in the interest of government transparency do. If you also believe that the government’s work is the people’s business, and if you have the means to help us in that mission - a little or a lot - please visit the donate page at our website. 

 

Thank you!

Posted 8/12/23

bottom of page