Florida surf park plan scrapped for potential data center
A planned surf park and housing development in Fort Pierce, Florida, has been canceled. The site is now being considered for a potential data center, with a rezoning application submitted for light industrial and general commercial use. The project manager noted existing power lines and insufficient funds made the property more suitable for a data center.
The Koa Bay surf park and housing development, which received approval in 2020 for a site west of Fort Pierce, Florida, has been abandoned. The project, originally planned for 200 acres at the northwest intersection of Interstate 95 and Midway Road, was set to feature a Wave Garden Surf Park and a community.
Project manager Chad LeBonte confirmed that memberships and payments for surf sessions are being refunded to contributors. LeBonte explained that the property's existing power lines and a lack of sufficient funds made the site more suitable for data center development.
A rezoning application was submitted in June to reclassify the land. If approved, the 200-acre parcel would be divided into 26 acres of general commercial zoning and 174 acres designated for light industrial use. The proposed changes would allow for potential developments including a hotel, gas station, restaurants, and crucially, a data center.