Sugarloaf Alliance
Preservation * Smarter Growth * Transparency in Government
Development near Sugarloaf (west of I-270 and north to the Monocacy River) should remain protected and free from commercial and industrial development. Check one
Disagree
Sugarloaf Mountain is an important natural and historic resource that deserves thoughtful stewardship. However, I do not support broad restrictions that prohibit all commercial or industrial development across a large geographic area. Land-use decisions should remain under local control and respect private property rights. Development proposals should be evaluated individually, balancing environmental concerns, infrastructure capacity, agricultural preservation, and community needs rather than imposing blanket prohibitions.
A Green Infrastructure Plan should be completed and adopted before approving major new industrial rezonings. Check one.
Agree
Major industrial rezonings can have significant impacts on roads, water resources, public services, agriculture, and neighboring communities. A Green Infrastructure Plan can provide useful information for local decision-makers before large-scale land-use changes are approved. However, the plan should inform decisions rather than serve as an automatic barrier to growth. Local governments must retain flexibility to balance environmental stewardship, property rights, and economic development.
If elected, do you pledge to never sign an NDA with a data center developer or other developer, nor to be bound by an NDA signed by another county official with a data center developer or any other developer? Check one.
Yes
The public has a right to know how major development projects may affect their communities, infrastructure, taxes, utility costs, and quality of life. While limited confidentiality may occasionally be necessary for proprietary business information, elected officials should not be bound by broad non-disclosure agreements that prevent transparency and accountability to the public. Government decisions should be made openly, with residents having access to the information necessary to provide meaningful input.
County legislation should be developed to prohibit County Council members, the County Executive, and county staff from signing any NDA that restricts their ability to inform the public, deliberate openly, or carry out their public duties. Check one.
Strongly agree
Government officials serve the public and should not enter into agreements that restrict their ability to communicate openly with residents or fulfill their responsibilities. Broad NDAs can undermine transparency, public trust, and informed decision-making, particularly on projects with significant community impacts. While legitimate proprietary business information may warrant limited protection, county officials should never be prevented from sharing relevant information, deliberating publicly, or representing the interests of the citizens they were elected or appointed to serve.
Frederick County should fund a thorough, independent cost-benefit analysis of data center impacts, specifically on Frederick County, regardless of any analysis that may be conducted by the State of Maryland on State level impacts. Check one.
Agree
Data centers can bring economic benefits, but they may also affect local infrastructure, electricity demand, water resources, public services, and land use. Frederick County should have access to independent, county-specific information before making major policy decisions. Local conditions and impacts may differ significantly from statewide projections. An objective cost-benefit analysis can help elected officials and residents better understand the potential opportunities, costs, and long-term consequences associated with data center development in Frederick County.
How many data centers should be built in Frederick County? Check the answer closest to your position.
0 (I will oppose all data centers, even those under construction)
0 (I will oppose all data centers, even those under construction)
4 (allow only the data centers currently under construction in Adamstown)
As many as allowed inside the original 1,586-acre Critical Digital Infrastructure Overlay Zone proposed by the Planning Commission.
As many as allowed inside the 2,615-acre expanded Critical Digital Infrastructure Overlay Zone passed by County Council on 23 Dec 2025.
What new county data center legislation would you endorse? Check all you support.
Increased distances to residences and public uses, Stricter noise limits, Stricter water use limits, Stricter design, height, and screening limits, Efficiency and power consumption limits, Full disclosure of electricity consumption, water consumption, height and footprint, backup generation capacity, noise and lighting impacts, and infrastructure needs and requirements of proposed data centers., An independent, third-party regularly monitoring data center operation (e.g. noise, water consumption) that reports its results publicly, including additional testing triggered by resident complaints or changes in operations., Mandatory corrective actions within a defined timeframe, with meaningful penalties or operational restrictions if compliance is not achieved (if post-construction monitoring shows a data center exceeds approved limits)., A moratorium on new data centers
Data centers are unique industrial facilities with potentially significant long-term impacts on surrounding communities. Residents deserve complete transparency before approvals are granted and meaningful accountability after construction. I support stronger siting, design, and operational standards; independent monitoring; public reporting; and enforceable penalties for violations. Until Frederick County can demonstrate that data centers will not adversely affect residents, infrastructure, or quality of life, a moratorium on new facilities is warranted.
What are your thoughts concerning environmental issues, preservation, development, transparency in government, and data centers in Frederick County? Describe any priorities, tradeoffs, or concerns that guide your thinking.
Frederick County's greatest strengths are its natural beauty, agricultural heritage, strong communities, and high quality of life. I support responsible environmental stewardship, preservation of important natural resources, and protection of working farmland, while also respecting private property rights and local decision-making. Development should be carefully planned, infrastructure-supported, and compatible with surrounding communities.
Transparency is essential to good government. Residents deserve open deliberations, access to information, and meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their neighborhoods and tax dollars.
I have significant concerns about large-scale data center development, particularly its potential impacts on electricity costs, water resources, infrastructure, traffic, noise, and residential quality of life. Before additional facilities are approved, Frederick County should require full public disclosure, independent analysis, and strong safeguards to ensure residents are not subsidizing private development or bearing unintended consequences.