DeSoto County rejects data center rezoning, with another vote ahead
The DeSoto County Commission narrowly rejected a rezoning application for about 238 acres intended for DCIP Group's hyperscale data center project near Arcadia. The project faces opposition over noise, pollution, water and wastewater impacts, while commissioners are scheduled to vote on another related rezoning request and the county has adopted a one-year data center moratorium.
The DeSoto County Commission voted 2-2 on DCIP Group's request to rezone roughly 238 acres for a hyperscale data center project near Arcadia, causing the application to fail after Commissioner Steve Hickox recused himself. The developer is seeking to assemble about 826 acres for a complex of natural gas-powered data centers near a decommissioned power plant, and commissioners are scheduled to consider another rezoning application from the company.
Commissioners and residents debated the potential tax revenue and economic development against concerns about noise, emissions, health effects, water demand, industrial wastewater and incomplete operational plans. County Planning Director Misty Servia said the proposal did not align with the area's development vision and lacked information about industrial wastewater disposal, while DCIP representatives said the project would use microgrid power, include setbacks and buffers, and comply with required environmental and air permitting.
The vote followed the county's July adoption of a one-year moratorium on new data center projects and a 4-1 recommendation from the planning commission to deny the rezoning request. DCIP Group had previously received approval to rezone 34 acres for an initial facility, but the broader expansion has generated continuing community opposition.