North Port Advances 18-Month Data Center Moratorium
The North Port City Commission has voted 4-1 on the first reading of an 18-month data center moratorium ordinance. This measure would freeze new data center applications and delay final approval for a pending 896,000-square-foot project by North Port Holdings 300, LLC. A final vote is scheduled for September 22, amidst significant public opposition and discussions about future regulations.
The North Port City Commission has advanced an 18-month data center moratorium, voting 4-1 on its first reading after several hours of public comments, primarily from opponents. The proposed ordinance would halt new data center applications and freeze final approval for a pending 896,000-square-foot project by North Port Holdings 300, LLC. Commissioner Demetrius Petrow cast the sole opposing vote, advocating for a complete cessation of the pending application's review.
City Attorney Michael Fuino advised against completely halting the pending application, citing potential legal challenges. The city currently lacks specific zoning standards for data centers, and commissioners are divided on how to proceed with the existing application while new rules concerning water, electricity, noise, and environmental impacts are considered.
North Port Holdings 300, LLC, represented by Avshalom and Avi Peretz, seeks to develop an 896,000-square-foot data center on land purchased in November 2022. This project is part of a larger 282-acre mixed-use development north of I-75. Residents expressed concerns about the data center's demands on utility costs, water supplies during droughts, continuous noise from cooling equipment, diesel emissions, light pollution, and impacts on local ecosystems.
While some commenters urged an outright ban on data centers, others acknowledged potential economic benefits like tax revenue and job creation, but demanded enforceable limits on resource use and infrastructure costs. The commission's current approach allows the pending application to continue through technical review stages but withholds final approval. A workshop with Florida Power & Light and Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority is scheduled to discuss infrastructure, and the moratorium will face a final vote on September 22.