A proposed data center in Florida could occupy nearly 238 acres, but unanswered questions about its power and water needs have raised concerns among neighbors and county planners.
A recommendation against rezoning from DeSoto County planners hasn't settled the project's fate: County commissioners still must decide whether the proposal is ready to advance.
Here's what to know
The 3-F Ranch proposal would allow up to 1.8 million square feet of buildings in DeSoto County, according to WINK.
How the proposed sites would get county utility service remains unresolved, prompting questions about whether officials have enough information to evaluate the development.
Neighbors also worry about the county's growth priorities and question whether the project aligns with them.
Arcadia resident Karen Pritchard described the uncertainty surrounding the proposal, saying, "Almost every answer is 'probably, maybe,' and even Mrs. Servio said not enough information."
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More background
Wastewater handling remains an open question, as does the development's potential effect on air quality. Electricity and water demand are also unresolved.
Local utility capacity is another concern. For nearby residents, the facility could also change traffic, lighting, and noise.
How wetlands might be affected is still an open question. It is also unclear whether nearby households would face any additional costs.
What's being done?
Insufficient detail prompted the planning commission to recommend rejecting the 3-F Ranch rezoning request at its Oct. 6 session, WINK reported.
One commissioner said seeking a compromise would be premature.
"I'm not going to waste time about trying to get some compromise, make some conditions, or doing something to make this project work because it's clearly not ready," the commissioner argued.
Where can I learn more?
Other communities are also asking how new data centers would affect their water and power supplies. These stories cover proposed restrictions, infrastructure costs, and residents' demands for answers about new developments.
• Washington's Skagit County weighs banning new data centers amid concerns about water and farmland.
• Arizona's Pima County advances a four-month halt on new data centers over utility demands.
• Utah lawmakers question whether data centers justify water and infrastructure costs alongside electricity demands.
• Piedmont, Oklahoma, residents gather signatures to force a data center vote before council action.
• In Wichita Falls, Texas, residents press candidates for answers about data centers' power and water needs.
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