City of Lakeland postponing first hearing on proposed data center
The City of Lakeland has postponed its first hearing on a proposed 12-month data center moratorium due to a legal technicality regarding public notice. The temporary pause aims to allow city leaders time to study the impacts of large-scale data centers on power, water, and neighborhoods, particularly as they review "Project Swan." The hearing is rescheduled for July 20th.
The City of Lakeland has postponed its initial public hearing concerning a proposed 12-month moratorium on new large-scale data centers. Originally slated for Monday, the hearing was moved due to a legal technicality regarding the required public notice timeline, as identified by the city attorney. The rescheduled date for the first hearing is July 20th, with a second hearing planned for August 3rd.
This proposed moratorium stems from the city's ongoing review of "Project Swan," a substantial data center campus envisioned near the old Tampa Highway and Wilkinson Road in West Lakeland. City leaders intend for the temporary pause to provide sufficient time to assess the potential impacts of such developments on the local power grid, water resources, and surrounding residential areas.
Lakeland's consideration of a data center pause is part of a broader trend in Florida. Nearby Pinellas and Pasco counties are also exploring similar measures, while Hernando and Citrus counties, along with the City of Zephyr Hills, have already enacted pauses on data center discussions or developments.