DeSoto Planning Commission recommends stronger data center moratorium

ARCADIA, Fla. (WINK) — The DeSoto County Planning Commission is recommending a stronger moratorium on future data center development, a move that could temporarily pause the proposed expansion of an artificial intelligence data center project while county leaders study its potential impacts.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, the Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend that the county’s proposed moratorium be extended from one year to two years. Commissioners also recommended the moratorium include two pending rezoning applications tied to the project’s proposed expansion.

The recommendation now heads to the DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners, which will have the final say when it considers the ordinance later this month.

The county told WINK News in an email that the DeSoto County Attorney’s Office will draft any proposed changes before the ordinance is presented to commissioners.

The original draft ordinance called for a one-year moratorium while county staff studied issues including infrastructure, utilities, environmental impacts, emergency services, and land-use regulations related to large-scale data centers. It would have exempted the already approved 34-acre data center project and the two pending rezoning applications. 

The Planning Commission’s recommendation would remove that exemption for the pending applications while leaving the approved 34-acre project in place.

For months, WINK News has been following community concerns surrounding the proposed AI data center, including questions about water use, power demand, environmental impacts, and the project’s growing footprint.

Arcadia Pastor Nathan Headrick, who has followed the proposal closely, said he was surprised by the Planning Commission’s recommendation.

“No, I was not expecting two years,” Headrick said. “I figured that they would do the one year. I was pleased that they did two.”

Hedrick believes a longer moratorium would give county leaders more time to fully evaluate the project before making long-term decisions.

“A moratorium, it doesn’t close the door on everything,” Headrick said. “It gives the county commission time to make a good, knowledge-based decision. It gives them time to do due diligence. It gives them time to look at it from every angle and really investigate to see if this is right for DeSoto County.”

He added that while the already-approved portion of the project may move forward, he believes the county should take its time in evaluating the proposed expansion.

“Just because somebody applies does not necessarily mean that it’s approved right off the bat,” Headrick said. “I think that the moratorium could include phase two and phase three of the data center.”

DCIP Group, the company behind the proposed project, says it is waiting to see the final version of the ordinance.

In a statement to WINK News, a spokesperson said:

“Still waiting to see what final verbiage is. We are continuing to meet with the community and small groups to answer any questions and concerns they have.”

The County Commissioners are expected to consider the revised moratorium ordinance on July 28, when commissioners will decide whether to adopt the Planning Commission’s recommendations.