Martin implements data center moratorium
The Martin County Commission approved a one-year moratorium on accepting new data center development applications in unincorporated areas. The action followed strong public opposition, while commissioners discussed a 959,000-square-foot proposal that was submitted before the moratorium took effect and may be exempt from it.
The Martin County Commission voted 4-0 to impose a 365-day moratorium on new data center development applications in the county's unincorporated areas. The measure directs county staff to study issues including development impacts, residential concerns, environmental considerations and regulatory changes needed to govern large-scale data centers.
Residents strongly supported the moratorium during a packed public hearing, with some urging commissioners to apply it retroactively to a proposal submitted for the South Florida Gateway Industrial Park. County officials said the application, submitted Oct. 13, calls for a 959,000-square-foot facility in four buildings on an 84-acre site and may be protected from the moratorium because it was filed before the ordinance took effect. County Attorney Elysse Elder warned that retroactive action could expose Martin County to vested-rights or Bert J. Harris claims, while commissioners asked her to investigate whether a broader ban could be legally imposed.