Fort Meade unanimously approves controversial data center deal despite fierce public pushback

The Fort Meade City Commission unanimously approved a controversial development agreement for Stonebridge's proposed data center campus, a decision that advances the project despite weeks of public pushback from residents concerned about water use and the project's long-term impact. The massive campus, planned for over 1,300 acres northwest of downtown Fort Meade, envisions up to 4.4 million square feet of development and could become one of Florida's largest data centers. Mayor Jaret Landon Williams clarified that Tuesday's vote concerned the development agreement itself, as the project had already secured land use and zoning approvals in June. He acknowledged prior public engagement shortcomings but asserted that concessions had been made to benefit the community. Stonebridge representatives, including Doug Firstenberg, defended the project as "mission-critical infrastructure," emphasizing efforts to address community concerns regarding its footprint and water consumption. Firstenberg highlighted the facility's closed-loop cooling system, which would significantly reduce water needs for data operations, with only 50,000 gallons per day required from the city for potable use. He also stated that Stonebridge would provide $10 million upfront to the city and additional funds for water resources, ensuring the project would not necessitate city capital. Elise Batsel, an attorney for the development team, stressed that the project would undergo stringent regulatory scrutiny and permitting from various agencies. Despite the unanimous commission vote, which included Commissioner Matthew Taylor's argument against "exaggerated and toxic rhetoric" and the inevitability of progress in a fast-growing Polk County, residents like Michael Bennett expressed continued concern, asserting that "progress that ignores the people it impacts is not progress." The project's final realization is still contingent upon additional regulatory approvals, specifically from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, concerning the proposed 50,000 gallons of water per day withdrawal.