Fort Meade residents sue city to block hyperscale data center deal
Fort Meade residents have filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging it failed to follow Florida's Smart Growth Management Act when approving a 20-year development agreement for a hyperscale data center with Stonebridge. The plaintiffs seek to terminate the agreement and have a higher court review the City Commission's decision. State officials, including Florida Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly and Gov. Ron DeSantis, have also voiced concerns about the planning process and viability of the project.
Fort Meade residents, including leaders of the Watchdogs of Fort Meade group, George McNerney and Raul Alfonso, have initiated a civil lawsuit against the City of Fort Meade.
The lawsuit, filed on May 14 in Polk County courts, alleges the city was negligent in its approval of a 20-year development agreement with Maryland-based company Stonebridge for a 4.4-million-square-foot hyperscale data center. Plaintiffs argue the city did not adhere to Florida's Smart Growth Management Act, which mandates evaluating proposed developments for consistency with the city's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. They are seeking a writ of certiorari from the court, demanding a higher court review the Fort Meade City Commission's unanimous approval of the agreement, and ultimately asking for its termination.
Prominent state officials have also weighed in on the controversy. Florida Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly previously described the data center's planning as "fundamentally flawed," citing a lack of transparency. Gov. Ron DeSantis further stated on May 7 that the proposed data center was "not viable" as the developer had not thoroughly considered various issues. Commissioner Jim Watts and Commissioner Matthew Taylor defended the city's "home rule" rights and the process, acknowledging potential future hurdles for the project.