The Sugarloaf Rural Heritage Overlay Zoning District ("the Overlay District") again is before the Frederick County Council. County records release recently (by court order) and Council Member comments make it clear that data center development in the foothills of Sugarloaf Mountain continues to be a threat.

We, the undersigned, call on the Frederick County Council to amend and pass the Sugarloaf Rural Heritage Overlay Zoning District amendment to the Sugarloaf Plan in order to prevent data center development in the Sugarloaf region. Specifically, we ask the County Council to:

• amend the Plan and Overlay text to add Critical Digital Infrastructure (data centers) to the list of prohibited uses within the Overlay boundary;
• retain the Overlay boundary as recommended twice by the Planning Commission, thereby limiting development on the west side of I-270; and
• pass this amended Overlay District without further delay.