Indiantown gives final nod to FPL land-use change

The Indiantown Village Council voted unanimously on February 26 to approve a new light industrial future land use for 5,722.30 acres owned by Florida Power & Light (FPL) that was recently annexed into the village. Prior to the vote, several residents spoke out against the land use change, fearing it would pave the way for the development of a large data center on the property south of Kanner Highway. Concerns were raised about the data center's potential water usage and impact on the local aquifer, as well as the incompatibility of a "2-million-square-foot building" with the village's rural character. Some residents accused the council of lacking transparency and making decisions to "fulfill money for the government and not for the people." The council defended its actions, stating that it does not make "backroom deals" and that everything is done in public meetings. Council members also argued that they could not "vote with their emotions" and that the data center rumors were just "panic at this point" since the council did not have any "concrete information" about such a project.