Palm Beach County commissioners reject Project Tango AI data center after more than 12 hours of debate

Palm Beach County commissioners voted to deny "Project Tango," a proposed hyperscale artificial intelligence data center near Arden, Florida, following over 12 hours of debate and significant community opposition. The decision, made without prejudice, means the developer can revise and resubmit the proposal.

The project sought additional approvals for an AI data center on a site that already holds county approval for more than 2 million square feet of general warehouse and data center development. Hundreds of residents, including teachers and community members, attended the hearing, with over 80 individuals speaking during public comment.

Throughout the proceedings, commissioners questioned experts from both sides regarding potential impacts, including noise, vibration, water usage, and environmental concerns. Developers argued their closed-loop cooling system would use approximately 600,000 gallons of water without daily replacement and that noise levels would meet county standards. Opponents, including the Western Palm Beach County Alliance, countered that insufficient information was provided on long-term impacts and that a hyperscale AI data center did not fit the site's light industrial designation.

Ultimately, commissioners determined the applicant failed to adequately address concerns from nearby residents and Saddle View Elementary School. While the specific AI data center application was denied, project attorney Ernie Cox confirmed that the property's existing entitlements for warehouse and data center development remain unaffected, and the development team will evaluate the commission's feedback before proceeding. The Palm Beach County Zoning Commission had previously recommended denying the application.