Palm Beach County zoning commission votes against AI data center 'Project Tango'
The Palm Beach County Zoning Commission unanimously voted to recommend against 'Project Tango,' a proposed hyperscale AI data center near Arden. Residents had expressed significant concerns regarding the project's demands on power and water, noise pollution, and potential legal precedent. The final decision now rests with the Palm Beach County Commissioners, who are scheduled to vote on July 15.
The Palm Beach County Zoning Commission unanimously voted against 'Project Tango,' a proposed hyperscale AI data center in western Palm Beach County, following intense public opposition. The project, planned within the Central Park Commerce Center, sought to expand its approved development space from over 2 million square feet to 3.6 million square feet to accommodate the large-scale AI facility.
Residents from nearby communities, including Arden, packed the hearing room to voice their concerns. They highlighted the data center's massive power and water requirements, potential noise impacts on homes and Saddle View Elementary School, and the dangerous legal precedent it could set for future developments across the county, according to Raymond Penuela, an Arden resident and HOA board member.
Despite an earlier recommendation for approval from county planning staff, the Zoning Commission reversed course after public comments and internal discussions. Commissioner Susan Kennedy moved to deny the project, citing its failure to meet county standards for comprehensive plan consistency, compatibility with surrounding uses, and minimizing adverse environmental impacts. Board Chair Christopher Kammerer noted a lack of understanding regarding AI technology and a re-evaluation of whether such a large data center should be classified as 'light industrial' given its 'heavy industrial' feel and impact.
The project applicant, PBA Holdings, Inc., can legally build a smaller data center approved in 2016, but the proposed expansion faced a major hurdle due to the current zoning code treating standard cloud storage and hyperscale AI data centers identically. The final decision on 'Project Tango' will be made by the Palm Beach County Commissioners during their vote on July 15.