Burkholder/McDade annexation

Called the developer's handout biased, questioned its claims, and raised light pollution and wildlife impacts.

Warned the annexation could be a way around the county's data center moratorium and raised concerns about energy costs, water, noise, and diesel generator pollution.

Asked the council to oppose the annexation, saying citizens were kept in the dark and should know the end user first; wants the area to stay rural.

Presented eleven specific protections — undergrounding power lines, noise limits, buffers, dark-sky lighting, impact studies — and asked the council to make them enforceable before approving annexation.

Asked the council whose interests they represent, urging them to genuinely weigh community opposition over corporate incentives.

Said the county's water plan is 17 years old and asked the council to table any vote until the 2027 water study is done.

Said the applicant would request 15% of Hagerstown's entire water allocation, urged proportional impact fees, and asked for a two-year city moratorium on data center applications.

Spoke for the Chamber of Commerce in support, saying it grows the tax base without adding school costs — but urged due diligence on infrastructure costs.

Union business agent urged support for the jobs and apprenticeship opportunities the project would create for working families.

A nearby first-time homeowner cited research showing ~7% property value drops near data centers and asked for written use clarifications and an independent property-value impact study.

Said residents feel forced to choose between a data center and killing growth, questioned local job eligibility, and demanded enforceable, verified protections.

A young union plumber who has built data centers in Frederick spoke in support, describing financial stability, benefits, and modern closed-loop cooling technology.

Warned against sacrificing farmland, water, and rural character, and urged a no vote on the annexation.

Lives across from the site on a private well; asked for a localized groundwater drawdown study and legally binding closed-loop cooling requirements.

Said the county is passing the political buck to the city and urged a pause until state guidelines, zoning definitions, and firm protections are in place.

A mother near the site raised concerns about children and elderly residents, nearby schools, and whether IMU zoning offers adequate protections.

Questioned the developers' data-center disclaimers and hoped the decision isn't just binary annex-or-lose-revenue.

A Hager's Crossing resident already suffering light trespass demanded binding covenants banning data centers, noise caps, buffers, and developer-funded utilities.

A 25-year IT veteran said data center operations jobs go overseas, not local, and called the annexation a loophole around the county moratorium.

IBW electrical workers representative supported the annexation, citing financial stability and family benefits from industrial construction work.

An iron worker urged support, saying these are family-sustaining careers, not just temporary construction jobs.

An 84-year-old resident asked why elected officials sign NDAs and what good a data center really does, and requested a public forum to get answers.

A geologist warned of sinkhole-prone karst geology, PFOS contamination risk from cooling water, and asked for binding groundwater testing conditions before any annexation.

Opposed the annexation without a named end user and suggested the city ban data centers above 10 megawatts like Baltimore did.

The Maryland Tech Council CEO defended the economic study: 4,000+ construction jobs, 256 permanent jobs, $7.1M annual city tax revenue, amid state budget deficits.

A Rapid Response member pointed out the developer's own portfolio mentions a Washington County data center project, and demanded the city release its NDA with the developer.

Asked whether the city can actually guarantee no data center and no tax breaks, questioned water sourcing, and disputed the developer's size comparisons.

Walked through the grid math: the 138 kV lines cap the data center, and future expansion would mean gas turbines and pollution like Memphis.

A realtor who believes the developer turned to the city only after the county said no; urged responsible evaluation of health, environmental, and property value impacts.

An educator described the valley's migratory bird flyway and waterways, urging the council to draw the line on development; said workers deserve better than extractive industries.