Reporter: Zoe Warner
•7/28/2026
NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)—Collier County commissioners voted to move forward with a zoning-in-progress measure for AI data centers.
The measure allows the county to deny new data center applications while officials develop long-term land-use regulations. The goal is to prevent new projects from moving ahead before those rules are in place.
The decision comes after weeks of pushback from the community, with many neighbors urging commissioners to slow the process.
"I'm glad that you're taking this seriously and not just plonking these things all over the place, I'm concerned about the water that they take," neighbor Donna Knapp said.
While neighboring counties like Charlotte, DeSoto and Glades have had discussions or even proposals submitted for data centers, Collier County has had no applications. Commissioners still want to get ahead of the rapid growth.
"I think this is a much smarter approach. So we're obviously focused on it. We're taking it seriously, and I think this gives us many more tools at our fingertips," Commissioner Rick LoCastro said.
Commissioners debated between a moratorium and zoning-in-progress, but eventually decided the latter would be a better fit.
"The word moratorium always sounds great in the press, and it's the big buzzword. Everybody, oh, X number of counties have already initiated a moratorium, but you know, I think we're taking a much more prudent approach and a smarter approach," Commissioner Rick LoCastro said.
Neighbors expressed concerns about the impact on water resources and future development. Neighbor and leader of the Independent Seminole Tribe of Florida Danny Billie questioned the pace of development.
"When is this development going to stop? Because if we keep continuing this, we're not saying or doing anything for the future of our next generation," Billie said.
Knapp emphasized the importance of water conservation in the decision-making process.
"The most important thing is that water is life. Water is our first medicine, it's where we all come from. Every cell needs water to divide and if we don't have adequate water and we give water to these machines, we will cease to exist," Knapp said.
Neighbors were grateful and hopeful that development continues to stay off the table as the county works to establish comprehensive regulations for AI data centers.
