Lake Commissioners to vote on proposed data center moratorium
Lake County Commissioners are considering a temporary moratorium on data center development, following similar actions in other Florida counties. This initiative addresses concerns over utility and land use impacts, particularly as the state's Senate Bill 180 complicates local development restrictions. Commissioners have agreed to have county staff draft an ordinance for a development pause.
The Lake County Board of County Commissioners is advancing plans to enact a temporary moratorium on new data center developments. Commissioner Anthony Sabatini proposed the pause, noting 12 data center applications in Florida within the last year and concerns about their impact on utilities and land use, especially in Central Florida due to AI computing demands. He clarified that the aim is a temporary halt, not an outright ban, until Senate Bill 180 expires.
Senate Bill 180, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, grants developers the ability to sue local governments over denied rezoning cases and has been interpreted to limit local control over development rules. Sabatini's proposed moratorium seeks to navigate these restrictions by instituting a temporary measure until the bill's expiration on October 1, 2027.
During discussions, Commissioner Kirby Smith supported the initiative, suggesting additional requirements such as mandating the use of reclaimed water for data centers. Commission Chair Leslie Campione also voiced concerns about potential environmental and quality of life impacts on residents, emphasizing the need for more information. The commissioners ultimately agreed to instruct county staff to draft an ordinance for future consideration of this development pause.
Separately, in adjacent Orange County, CoreSite, a subsidiary of American Tower, is proposing to build a second data center at its Orlando campus near John Young Parkway and State Road 528. Site plans filed with the South Florida Water Management District show a proposed 76,280-square-foot, two-story facility to expand its existing operations.