Fort Pierce residents divided over proposed data center rezoning
A proposal to rezone 200 acres near I-95 and Midway Road in Fort Pierce for a data center and commercial development has sparked mixed reactions from residents, with the planning board requesting further research before making a decision.
FORT PIERCE, Fla. —
A proposal to rezone 200 acres near Interstate 95 and Midway Road in Fort Pierce for a data center and commercial development has prompted mixed reactions from residents and led the city’s planning board to delay a decision pending further research.
The property, currently zoned for a mixed-use development called “Willow Lakes,” would be partially rezoned under the proposal. About 174 acres would be designated for light industrial use, limited to data center operations, while the remaining 26 acres along Midway Road would be rezoned for general commercial use, potentially allowing for a hotel, gas station, restaurants or retail businesses.
The applicant, Willow Lakes LLC, emphasized the site’s access to significant electrical infrastructure, including Florida Power & Light transmission lines and a nearby substation. A large man-made lake on the property could also serve as a water source for the data center’s cooling system.
During the meeting, the planning board made two motions. The first requested the planning department to conduct further research on the data center proposal and report back. The second motion called for the city to discuss the item at the next commission meeting. As a result, the board did not decide whether a data center qualifies as a permitted use within the light industrial zoning category, prompting the applicant to table the rezoning application.
“Therefore, there is no point in us moving forward with rezoning to light industrial,” said W. Lee Dobbins, the attorney representing Willow Lakes LLC. “We would need to wait until that decision is over and make a decision at that time based upon what they changed the code to say.”
Residents expressed a range of opinions about the proposal.
“We’re not OK with them building a data center right next to our homes,” said resident Sarah Quinette. “An area like that, if we keep it as agricultural land, it has a great impact in the form of pollinating insects that will return season after season.”
Felix Rodriguez, another resident, shared a different perspective. “I think it’s pretty cool personally, just because it brings in more jobs, construction, that trade. … All the freight just brings in more business,” he said.
Shirley McHellon voiced her opposition to the project. “I think they need to stop. They just need to stop. They’re taking away the trees, the woods and the animals … they’re just killing the animals,” she said.
Before the data center can move forward with approval, the city must first decide whether to approve the rezoning request. Further research is required before the planning board revisits the proposal.
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