Fort Pierce Koa Bay Surf Park Scrapped for Data Center Plan
Developers have abandoned plans for the Koa Bay surf park project in Fort Pierce, Florida, and are now seeking rezoning for a 200-acre site to accommodate a data center and commercial businesses. The presence of electrical transmission lines, previously a complication for residential design, is now seen as an advantage for the power-intensive data center. The rezoning application for light industrial and commercial use is pending, with a partner for data center development to be selected upon approval.
The Koa Bay surf park project, planned for a 200-acre site west of Fort Pierce, Florida, has been officially abandoned by its developers. Chad LaBonte, Koa Bay project owner and principal of Devcon Enterprises, stated that the inability to raise sufficient capital for the Wavegarden surf park, along with complexities related to electrical transmission lines, led to the decision.
Property owner Willow Lakes LLC has submitted a rezoning application to the city of Fort Pierce, proposing a significant shift in land use. The new plan designates 174 acres for light industrial use to house a data center, with the remaining 26 acres zoned for commercial development including a hotel, gas station, restaurants, and other businesses. The existing electrical infrastructure on the property, which includes two sets of power lines, is now considered a key advantage for a data center requiring substantial power capacity.
While the rezoning application, submitted on June 17th, is still pending, its approval would allow the applicant to select a partner for the data center development. That partner would then proceed with submitting a site plan and obtaining city approval for construction. Developers are currently refunding surf memberships and future session payments related to the defunct surf park project, and are also exploring alternative locations within St. Lucie County for the surfing project.