Is that a data center being built in Bonita Springs -- or just a case of incorrect technical terminology?
A project in Bonita Springs, initially labeled as a "data center" in zoning applications, has caused confusion and concern among local residents regarding its potential impact. However, Bonita Springs Mayor Mike Gibson clarified that the facility is an internet relay station, not a traditional data center, requiring much less power and water. The city approved a special exception for the zoning change, despite existing land codes not explicitly addressing such facilities.
A property at Bonita Beach Road and Imperial River Road in Bonita Springs, Florida, is being cleared for a project that has drawn concern and confusion among residents. News reports have identified the project as a "data center," a label also used in the 2025 zoning change application which was approved last year.
However, Bonita Springs Mayor Mike Gibson has clarified that the facility is not a true data center, but rather an internet relay station. He explained that "data center" was the closest available zoning term for a building primarily containing computers, given that the C-1 zoning category predates the internet. The facility is expected to be a small, two-story office-like building with normal commercial electrical and water connections, unlike the significant demands of larger data centers.
Telcofacilities, a North Miami-based company involved in the project, describes itself as focused on data infrastructure solutions, including access to submarine cables and fiber optic networks. The company did not respond to WGCU's inquiry. Residents like Rick Barton and Tonya Da Silva expressed concern about the project's transparency and potential impact on property values, particularly given the recent public discourse on large data centers' electricity and water consumption.
Environmental concerns regarding gopher tortoise burrows on the site have been addressed through off-site mitigation, as coordinated with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. The project involves bringing fiber optic cables ashore from the Gulf of America to connect to the new building.