Citrus County Planning Commission Recommends Denial for Data Center Rezoning

The Citrus County Planning and Development Commission (PDC) unanimously recommended denying a major rezoning request for an 800-acre expansion of Holder Industrial Park, which is slated to include a four-building data center campus. The decision came after more than eight hours of testimony and debate, with board members expressing frustration over a significant lack of critical information from the applicant regarding potential impacts on water consumption, power demand, noise, and other operational concerns.

Clark Stillwell, an attorney representing the applicant, Deltona Corporation, confirmed the site would be exclusively for a data center campus, promising 300-500 construction jobs and 50-100 permanent positions. However, commissioners, including Robert Sharra, questioned why rezoning was sought before the county's specific data center regulations, which are currently under development, were in place.

Public opposition was strong, with a packed hearing room and residents voicing concerns that the project would alter the character of Citrus County, known as the "Nature Coast," and strain infrastructure and natural resources. This debate occurs while Citrus County commissioners are already working on a comprehensive data center ordinance and recently enacted a 12-month moratorium on new data center applications to study various impacts.

Ultimately, the PDC determined the proposal did not meet county development standards or comply with the comprehensive plan. The recommendation now moves to the county commission, which is expected to consider a request from the applicant to postpone its review until November.