Deltona Corporation drops Citrus County data center plans
Deltona Corporation withdrew its rezoning application for a large-scale data center in Citrus County, Florida, after widespread citizen opposition and a unanimous recommendation for denial by the County's Planning and Development Commission. The county had previously enacted a temporary moratorium on data centers to develop new regulations. The withdrawal means the project is blocked.
Deltona Corporation has withdrawn its rezoning application for a proposed data center project at the Holder Industrial Park in Citrus County, Florida, marking a victory for local citizens. The withdrawal came a day after the Citrus County Commissioners unanimously denied the company's request to delay a public hearing on the matter.
Prior to the withdrawal, the Citrus County Planning and Development Commission (PDC) had recommended denying the application following an eight-hour public hearing where numerous citizens voiced concerns about the data center's intense water and power use, bright lighting, and potential low-frequency hum. Deltona, the developer of Citrus Springs, had sought to rezone 798 acres from agricultural and low-density residential to heavy industry for the data center.
Facing a lack of specific zoning standards for data centers, the County Commission enacted a one-year moratorium in May to develop new regulations. Although Deltona's application was filed before the moratorium, County Attorney Denise Dymond Lyn stated that any new application would fall under the new guidelines. The company's plan was also questioned by Planning Commissioners for lacking specifics and feasibility. An organization called No Data Centers Citrus actively supported candidates in upcoming elections who opposed data center development.