In this Newsletter:

• Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (DRRA)

   

This is an update on the DRRA mentioned in the last newsletter since the proposed agreement represents a real and quickly evolving threat to the Sugarloaf region and to County land use policies and prerogatives.

Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (DRRA)

Despite previously announcing a moratorium on further data center development the County Executive appears to have reversed course again and announced her support for a development rights and responsibilities agreement with Catellus, developer of the Quantum Frederick data center complex in Adamstown. If enacted, this agreement would prevent future county councils from reversing the data-center friendly policies enacted by the current county council. Its fictitious label as a community benefits agreement in the county’s releases doesn't change that it is a disastrous development rights and responsibilities agreement conditioned on developer rather than community benefits. Considering this agreement is an unacceptable end-run around the democratic process. The County is accepting public comments through a form until September 10th. No public hearing dates have been announced: The Planning Commission is required to determine whether the DRRA is consistent with the County's comprehensive plan before referring it to the County Council for possible further action. The Sugarloaf Alliance has sent comments on the proposed DRRA to the County Executive, Planning Commission, and County Council. 

What you can do: Submit comment through the form before September 10th, but don't limit yourself there. Contact the Office of the County Executive on social media and via email. Contact the Planning Commission. Contact the County Council. Share the issues on social media for those who are not aware of this quickly-evolving issue.