Eatonville council weighs transparency push as data center raises resident concerns
Eatonville leaders are considering a measure to increase transparency and community input regarding a HostDime data center project, which has raised resident concerns about water and electricity use, noise, and appearance. The Town Council is discussing these issues, including new Florida laws that empower local governments to reject projects and require strict water permits.
The Eatonville Town Council is poised to discuss a "call to action" aimed at enhancing transparency and community involvement surrounding a proposed data center project. Developed by HostDime, the approximately 100,000-square-foot facility, visible from I-4 and Wymore Road, has prompted local residents to raise questions about its potential impacts, including water and electricity consumption, noise levels, and its visual presence in the town.
Councilwoman Wanda Randolph is spearheading the initiative, advocating for increased information sharing between the developer, the town council, and the administration to address community concerns proactively. Residents are particularly keen to understand the implications for water use, water rates, power demand, and electric bills, as well as potential noise or pollution.
The data center is slated to open later this year. In anticipation, Eatonville is considering a series of meetings with HostDime to fully understand the project's impact. This comes as a new Florida law has been enacted, prohibiting utility customers from being charged for grid upgrades specifically for data centers, while also granting local governments the authority to reject data center projects and mandating strict water permits. The Eatonville Town Council is scheduled to discuss these matters at their meeting tonight.