Alachua County Commission discusses data center regulations, expresses opposition

The Alachua County Commission convened on May 26, where a key discussion revolved around establishing regulations for data centers within the county. Commissioner Anna Prizzia urged the Growth Management Department to fast-track Comprehensive Plan changes, leveraging new legislation that grants local authorities power to develop policies and land use compatibility regulations for data centers with a peak load of 50 MW or more. Prizzia explicitly voiced "strong opposition" to data centers in the county, citing their intensive natural resource impacts, and expressed a desire to have policies in place to prevent potential applications from being at odds with county interests. Commissioners Marihelen Wheeler, Mary Alford, and Charles Chestnut echoed her sentiment, with Wheeler declaring, "Just say no."

Principal Planner Chris Dawson clarified that while a moratorium on data centers could not be implemented, the Growth Management Director's interpretation is that data centers are currently "not a permitted use" in the county. Staff indicated that developing model language for these policies would take several months.

The meeting also included other unrelated agenda items, such as the selection of artwork for the County's Fire Headquarters and Emergency Operations Center, and a deferred decision on Westside Christian School's request for water and sewer connections, which also involved discussions on land use and utility access in rural areas.