In 6-0 vote, Fort Meade planning board endorses data center agreement

The Fort Meade Planning and Zoning Board voted 6-0 to recommend approval of a development agreement with Stonebridge for a proposed 4.4 million-square-foot hyperscale data center in Fort Meade, Florida. This project, which would be the state's first hyperscale facility, now awaits a final vote from the Fort Meade City Commission at its April 14 meeting. Stonebridge, a D.C.-based real estate and investment firm, has offered Fort Meade $10 million in advance for infrastructure improvements and an additional $300,000 for future water supplies, following what City Manager Troy Bell described as a "hard negotiation". Residents have voiced strong opposition for months, forming the "Watchdogs of Fort Meade" group and raising concerns over potential environmental impacts including increased electricity and water demands, air and water pollution, noise, "heat islands," and a loss of rural character. Speakers like Lisa Rice and Tyler Hancock detailed personal health concerns and potential for "forever chemicals" in cooling water. Doug Firstenberg, a founding principal of Stonebridge, and lawyer Elise Batsel, countered these concerns, stating the facility would employ a "closed-loop" water system requiring only 50,000 gallons daily, and noise levels at half a mile would be minimal (50-52 decibels). Christina Reichert, a senior attorney with Earthjustice, submitted a 27-page letter to the board arguing that the project conflicts with Fort Meade's local land use regulations and that critical information regarding the data center's design and its substantial water and power needs (1.2 gigawatts, twice Tallahassee's usage) is missing. She also questioned how Duke Energy would supply such power and warned against on-site natural gas turbines. The Planning and Zoning Board, however, did not mention her letter during deliberations, though they did request two revisions to the development agreement, including a written guarantee of temporary water/wastewater easements and a provision ensuring the data center is treated like any other customer during water restrictions.