Process
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) –Currently underway
Step 1
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) –Currently underway
Before a data center can be built anywhere in the City, the City's zoning code, the rulebook that governs what can be built where, must be updated to allow it. That update is called a Zoning Text Amendment, or ZTA. Trammell Crow Company has submitted a ZTA to the City that would permit data centers on M1 or M2 industrial-zoned properties of 75 acres or larger. Only four properties in Frederick currently meet those criteria, and all four are located within Frederick Commerce Center. As the conclusion of this step, the ZTA will be reviewed and voted on by the City Council.
Planning what gets built and where
Step 2
Planning what gets built and where
Once a ZTA is approved, a developer must submit a site plan before any construction can begin. Think of this as a detailed blueprint of how the property will be used. It includes the size and placement of buildings, how utilities will be connected, how stormwater will be managed, and an assessment of the impact on public services. From there, the site plan is reviewed and approved by the City's Planning Commission.
The final engineering before construction
Step 3
The final engineering before construction
After the site plan is approved, the developer prepares improvement plans: the full, detailed engineering drawings that spell out exactly how everything will be built. These are reviewed and approved by City staff, and construction cannot begin until these plans are signed off on and permits are issued.
Step 1
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) –Currently underway
Before a data center can be built anywhere in the City, the City's zoning code, the rulebook that governs what can be built where, must be updated to allow it. That update is called a Zoning Text Amendment, or ZTA. Trammell Crow Company has submitted a ZTA to the City that would permit data centers on M1 or M2 industrial-zoned properties of 75 acres or larger. Only four properties in Frederick currently meet those criteria, and all four are located within Frederick Commerce Center. As a next step, the ZTA will be reviewed and voted on by the City Council.
Step 2
Planning what gets built and where
Once a ZTA is approved, a developer must submit a site plan before any construction can begin. Think of this as a detailed blueprint of how the property will be used. It includes the size and placement of buildings, how utilities will be connected, how stormwater will be managed, and an assessment of the impact on public services. From there, the site plan is reviewed and approved by the City's Planning Commission.
Step 3
The final engineering before construction
After the site plan is approved, the developer prepares improvement plans: the full, detailed engineering drawings that spell out exactly how everything will be built. These are reviewed and approved by City staff, and construction cannot begin until these plans are signed off on and permits are issued.
Bringing a data center to the City of Frederick involves a clear, multi-step approval process. Each step requires sign-off from city officials before the next one can begin. Here's how it works:
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Community Protections in Focus
The proposed ZTA doesn't just open the door to data centers; it also sets clear rules to ensure they are conscientious neighbors.
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