Damien Alvarado
•9/1/2026
NORTH PORT, Fla. (WINK) — Newly released plans are giving a clearer picture of the massive data center proposed in North Port, near Yorkshire Street and Oleander Drive. The project calls for seven separate data center buildings.
The proposal from North Port Holdings 300, LLC calls for roughly 896,000 square feet of buildings, including about 123,200 square feet of office space. The seven buildings would be part of a roughly 112-acre portion of the larger Deep Park development planned near Yorkshire Street and Oleander Drive.
The documents became public after a confidentiality agreement connected to the project expired on Friday. Site plans reviewed by WINK News show mechanical and generator yards next to the proposed data center buildings. The plans also include parking, utility infrastructure and stormwater facilities.
The application says the development would connect to North Port’s public water system through an extension of city infrastructure. Wastewater would be treated on-site. About 22.5 acres of stormwater ponds are also proposed, representing roughly 20% of the site.
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The application materials reviewed by WINK News do not provide a specific estimate for daily water use or identify what type of cooling system the facility would use. WINK News asked the City of North Port for more information about the project’s expected water demand.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District told WINK News that a separate Water Use Permit may also be required depending on the project’s water-supply needs.
An environmental assessment prepared by Kimley-Horn on behalf of the applicant identifies six wetlands and two other surface-water areas on the property. The report says impacts are proposed for all eight areas. The developer estimates the project would impact about 4.64 acres of wetlands and proposes purchasing mitigation credits to offset those impacts elsewhere.
However, the Southwest Florida Water Management District told WINK News it has not received an Environmental Resource Permit application under the names “Deep Park” or “North Port 300.”
That means the district has not independently verified the 4.64-acre estimate or reviewed the proposed mitigation plan. The district said wetland impacts of this type would require an Environmental Resource Permit before moving forward.
The environmental assessment also says Kimley-Horn scientists observed several potentially occupied gopher tortoise burrows during a preliminary survey in July. The consultant recommends a full survey before construction or land clearing and says a relocation permit would be obtained from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission if necessary.
Stone Dennis, a lifelong Southwest Florida resident and commercial fisherman, said the potential effect on wildlife is one of his biggest concerns.
“I understand their perspective on location-wise because, I mean, it’s, you know, all undeveloped stuff over there, but the issue is, like I mentioned before, you know, we have a lot of animals in Southwest Florida and, you know, they’re running out of places to live,” Dennis said.
He said technological growth is important, but he questions what could be lost as Southwest Florida continues to develop.
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“At the end of the day, is it as important as making sure that our children and our grandchildren have the same Southwest Florida to grow up in that we got?” Dennis said.
The new details come after hundreds of people packed North Port City Hall Monday night as commissioners considered temporarily pausing data center approvals.
After hours of public comment, commissioners advanced an 18-month moratorium. Under the amended proposal, the city could continue reviewing the North Port 300 application during the pause, but a final decision on the project could not be made while the moratorium is in effect.
North Port is scheduled to hold a data center workshop on Thursday, Sept. 3. Commissioners are expected to take a final vote on the moratorium on Sept. 22.
