Lakeland data center still under review. City staff raise concerns

A proposed hyperscale data center in Lakeland, Florida, is currently under review by city staff, drawing significant concerns regarding its viability and impact. The project, put forth by Kimley-Horn and Ryan Companies U.S. Inc., entails a 600,000-square-foot facility on approximately 60 acres in west Lakeland.

City staff have prepared a 13-page report highlighting major issues. Senior planner Audrey McGuire noted that the city's Land Development Code does not have a zoning category for data centers, deeming them a "prohibited use" unless specifically determined otherwise. She also stated that the project is incompatible with the city's vision for the area as a business park and could negatively impact surrounding residential uses. The site, partially zoned industrial under a 2012 Planned Unit Development (PUD), does not include provisions for a data center.

Further concerns include the substantial electrical power and water demands of such a facility, with Lakeland Electric's assistant general manager, Scott Bishop, outlining necessary requirements. The site is also located in a high-risk FEMA Zone A floodplain, requiring a detailed impact analysis. Residents have voiced concerns about the cost of meeting the data center's infrastructure needs. The city's report mandates detailed studies on potential impacts to water quality, pollution, air quality, and noise if the developer wishes to proceed, while also noting limited wastewater capacity in western Lakeland.