DeSoto County Rejects Rezoning for Proposed Data Center Near Arcadia, Florida
DeSoto County commissioners deadlocked 2-2 on a rezoning request covering about 238 acres near Arcadia, effectively rejecting the request for the proposed data center. Residents and county planning officials raised concerns about water use, industrial wastewater, pollution and noise, while the developer cited economic benefits and tax revenue; additional rezoning decisions remain ahead.
DeSoto County commissioners spent six hours reviewing a request to rezone approximately 238 acres near Arcadia for a hyperscale data center. The vote ended in a 2-2 deadlock after Commissioner Steve Hickox recused himself over a potential conflict of interest, causing the rezoning request to fail.
The proposal is part of DCIP Group's plan to assemble roughly 826 acres for natural-gas-powered data centers. Supporters point to tax revenue, economic development and infrastructure funding, while residents question potential impacts on water supplies, industrial pollution and noise. County planning director Misty Servia said the application lacked sufficient information about industrial wastewater disposal and did not fit the area's development vision. DCIP Group said the project would comply with regulations and include buffers for nearby properties.
The county had previously approved an initial 34-acre rezoning, and it adopted a data center moratorium in July. However, applications that were already pending may continue moving forward, with another rezoning vote scheduled for Oct. 28.