Flagler to consider data center moratorium amid Palm Coast concerns
Flagler County officials are considering a one-year moratorium on data center projects in unincorporated areas to address concerns about infrastructure capacity, water demand, and environmental impacts. This comes as Palm Coast residents voice worries about an ongoing DC BLOX cable landing station and data center project, prompting the City Council to seek stricter land development regulations for future data centers. The proposed moratorium aims to allow staff time to develop comprehensive plan policies and land development regulations.
Flagler County's Board of County Commissioners plans to consider imposing a one-year moratorium on data center projects in unincorporated areas of the county. The proposed ordinance, to be reviewed on July 13, cites a current lack of specific comprehensive plan policies and land development regulations to address the siting, compatibility, and impacts of large-scale data centers, including their significant electrical and water demands, environmental effects, and emergency service requirements. Officials believe a temporary pause is necessary to allow county staff to study these issues and prepare amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code, incorporating public input and regulatory adjustments.
Simultaneously, residents of Palm Coast are expressing ongoing concerns regarding the DC BLOX cable landing station project, a 33,760-square-foot facility currently under construction. This specialized data center, located south of Royal Palms Parkway and west of Town Center Boulevard, will serve as a landing point for international subsea cables, with tech giant Google anchoring its new transatlantic fiber optic cable system "Sol" there. Residents have voiced worries about the project's projected water use, electricity demand, and a perceived lack of transparency from the city, especially given that the initial building did not require City Council review due to its size.
In response to these concerns, the Palm Coast City Council instructed staff in June to develop stricter land development regulations for future data center projects. These regulations would establish thresholds and definitions to differentiate smaller facilities from large-scale data centers, determining when additional scrutiny and approvals are necessary. DC BLOX clarified that while plans exist for a second building, the total capacity of the campus will be below its original conservative estimate. The county's moratorium, if approved, would provide a framework for future development.