Next Meeting: TUESDAY, November 10, 2026 at 7:15 p.m.
IN-PERSON AT THE POTOMAC LIBRARY!
SPEAKER: Beth Landry, Central Maryland Coordinator, Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN)
Communities are organizing to address the numerous issues posed by data centers. Montgomery County recently passed an emergency 18-month moratorium on hyperscale data centers to develop data center-specific regulations. The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), a grassroots non-profit, is pushing for strict state-level environmental protections, legislative guardrails, and temporary moratoriums on hyperscale data centers due to their massive grid strain, high energy demands, and impact on utility costs. Join us as CCAN’s Beth Landry discusses what this pause means locally, what is happening with data center reform at the state level, and what we must do next to protect our communities.
As always, our Community Meetings are open to the public!
Our Work People Over Data Centers: A One-Day Conference Saturday, November 7th | Baltimore, MD
Hosted by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network & Nature Forward
Topics: Environmental justice, farmland and water protection, utility rate hikes, grid impacts, and organizing for a 2027 statewide moratorium. Join community members from across Maryland to gain the organizing tools and legal information needed to reform data center development. Key speakers include Congressman Jamie Raskin, Councilmember Will Jawando, Delegate Marc Korman, and environmentalist/author Bill McKibben.
Tickets available at PeopleOverDataCenters.org
Data Centers Near Schools? Educators Call for Safety First
Submitted by Theodora Scarato
Almost 1,900 public schools sit within a mile of a data center, exposing students to health risks like air pollution, noise, vibration, heavy traffic, and more. The National Education Association (NEA), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Parent Teacher Association, and numerous school boards are raising urgent health and safety alarms and issuing policies to protect students and staff.
This summer, the NEA adopted a policy opposing construction of “data centers that harm the environment,” and the AFT resolution calls for “binding environmental safeguards governing AI infrastructure, including enforceable limits on carbon emissions, water consumption, energy usage, and electronic waste.” As an example of the numerous local actions, the Frederick County school board requested a permanent buffer around Carroll Manor Elementary School, evaluation of cumulative diesel-generator emissions, and monitoring of low-frequency and tonal noise.
Just Say No to Bill 41-16: Accessory Dwelling Units
Submitted by Carol Van Dam Falk & Ginny Barnes
We are urging members to write every Montgomery County Council Member to oppose Bill 41-26, which will soon come up for a vote. The bill would expand construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by eliminating the current requirement that one unit on a property be owner-occupied and by waiving licensing fees for units with rents affordable to households earning below 65% of the area median income. This bill is all but an open invitation to developers to buy up single family homes situated on one or more acres and subdivide them into multiple rental units, with no owners in sight. From the beginning, the ADU law was created to allow homeowners to build an accessory unit to either generate income for older residents who want to be able to stay in their homes, or create extra living space for families who are taking in their elderly parents. If the County does away with this requirement, all bets are off on what would happen with ADUs. It will make it that much harder for people trying to buy a home with ever-escalating prices who must compete with investors who have more cash flow and offer higher prices and quick closings. Investors buying homes make the market even tougher for first time homebuyers and drive up prices.
Before taking action, the Council should first determine how many ADUs are expected to come into the market and figure out whether financial assistance, tax credits, or some other means would achieve the same result without getting rid of the owner occupancy requirement. More rental units do not necessarily translate into more affordable housing.
Councilmembers Friedson and Fani-Gonzalez sponsored the bill, with Councilmembers Balcombe, Evans, Luedtke, Glass, Stewart, Sayles, and Katz as co-sponsors, but we urge you to write each and every Councilmember, calling on them to oppose Bill 41-16. WMCCA is sending a letter voicing strong opposition to Bill 41-26, but we know that individual letters have the most impact on the Council. The Council’s Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee discussed the bill on Monday, October 26th. In the staff report for Monday’s PHP work session on the ADU bill, note that on page 13, Councilmember Sayles proposes an amendment to retain the owner occupancy requirement for ADUs. This is good news and we support her amendment.
Bus Depot Proposal in Piney Branch SPA
Submitted by Ginny Barnes
The County Council approved the budget for MCPS system and included a proposal for a bus depot on 12+ forested acres at the corner of Shady Grove and Cavanaugh in the Piney Branch Special Protection Area (SPA). This decision left the choice of using the site to the school board. Both large nearby housing developments: The Willows of Potomac and the Potomac Glen Association opposed use of the site on a number of grounds, including safety and noise. WMCCA concentrated on the environmental violation of SPA limitations on impervious areas to protect water quality in a sensitive watershed also designated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as Priority Urban Forest. The Board of Education (BOE) recently met and our understanding is that this SPA area is no longer identified as a specific location. However, it is still on the larger list, and the BOE is also considering County-owned parcels, as well as parcels for sale. Although still under consideration, we are relieved the SPA area is no longer the designated spot. That may change and we’ll closely follow any future BOE discussions. The Potomac Subregion Master Plan recommends that excess school sites be considered for future parkland. This would be an ideal outcome and provide needed protection for the forest.
Forest Conservation Law (FCL) Amendments
Submitted by Ginny Barnes
The Planning Commission staff has been reviewing proposed FCL amendments to comply with recent Maryland State updates and strengthen our own law. The Montgomery Forest Coalition, made up of a number of citizen and environmental organizations, is working with staff on these amendments. Discussions are ongoing to improve our FCL and provide more protection for existing forests and provide more ability to create new forest. We hope to have a future meeting on the proposed amendments as they proceed through review to eventual adoption.
Lively and Productive October 13th General Meeting
Submitted by Nancy Madden
We appreciate everyone who attended our ‘Bring Your Concerns’ General Meeting. We had detailed discussions on the continued concerns of the safety of artificial turf fields installed at our area schools, the importance of native plants, the County’s Community FarmShare program, and got some great recommendations for future Speakers!
Potomac Day Crowds Brought the Sun Out!
Submitted by Nancy Madden
Despite early clouds and windy gusts, the crowds turned out for Potomac Day in the Village on October 17h. Our WMCCA booth was very active – meeting residents new to the area interested in learning what their local citizens association does and enjoying visits from current members and long-time residents giving us updates or concerns about what’s happening in their neighborhoods. The Kingsbury Orchard and Lewis Orchard Farm Market apples we gave out were a great opportunity to remind everyone about the amazing Montgomery County farms and orchards that provide delicious locally grown produce.
REMINDER: IT’S TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2026-2027!
Our membership year runs from October 1st to September 30th:Individual: $25 / Family: $50
Go to our website www.wmcca.org.
E-Newsletters save the expense of rising postage and printing costs.
Please email: hooverb@msn.com to go paperless. Thank you!
IN-PERSON WMCCA Meeting November 10, 2026 – 7:15 p.m.
West Montgomery County Citizens Association Newsletter
P.O. Box 59335, Potomac, MD 20854-9335
President – Theodora Scarato President@WMCCA.org
Website: www.WMCCA.org – Thomas Fahey
Newsletter Editor – Nancy Madden
