Fort Pierce Planning Board tabled a request to rezone 200 acres on Midway Road just north and west of I-95 after a tumultuous meeting last week, while a plan to possibly create a new zoning category for data centers was determined to require further research.
The applicant, seeking to construct a data center, wanted to rezone the 26-acre portion of the property that fronts along Midway Road from Planned Development (PD) to General Commercial (C-3) and the 174-acre balance of the 200 acres to Light Industrial (I-1).
Willow Lakes, LLC owns the 200 acres at 10050 W. Midway Road in Fort Pierce, which was most recently approved as a residential area and surf park. The property is currently zoned as Planned Development (PD) and is entitled for a mixed-use designation.
But the question was whether light industrial was the right fit for the data center portion of the property and if a new category could be added due to the impact of data centers on residential neighborhoods.
Before the meeting, over a dozen anti-data center protesters gathered outside City Hall as vehicles driving by beeped in support.
Following the protest, about 150 people crammed into the meeting chamber to attend the meeting that was set to address two items – item C, a rezoning requested by Willow Lakes LLC, and item D, to determine a zoning category for data centers. Item D was discussed first.
After a presentation by Planning Board Director Kevin Freeman and much discussion by board members, it was agreed that further research was needed on the impacts and appropriate zoning for data centers.
The Planning Board unanimously approved two motions on creating a new zoning category: one directing staff to conduct additional research and report back, and another recommending that the city place the issue on its next meeting agenda for discussion.
Many of those in attendance had signed up to speak during the public speaking portion of the agenda item, but when they became aware there would be no public speaking, some in the crowd got edgy and one person was escorted out of the chamber by police.
“Are we serious? Raise your hand if you live here. There’s no reason to push it back. Why are we here if we don’t have a voice,” said the young woman.
The board was set to move on to the rezoning request for the 200-acre parcel but a brief recess was called. People standing along the side walls of the chamber were asked to either find a seat or leave as the room was filled beyond capacity.
After the recess, the board continued with plans to move to the next item — the actual rezoning request for the 200-acre property – but no presentation or discussion ensued.
“In light of the last agenda item, we would like to table the application to a date uncertain,” said Lee Dobbins of Dean Mead, representing the developer.
A motion to accept the applicant’s request to table the motion and bring it back at an uncertain date was unanimously approved by the board. Public hearing notices are required before the item can be brought back to the board.
The decision to table the item and move on brought applause from the crowd, but not everyone was happy about the decision.
“I’m very angry that he pulled out so now the public doesn’t get to comment. People will be frustrated and there will be less people showing up,” said Fort Pierce resident Sarah Quinette, who organized the protest that took place in front City Hall before the meeting.
“Data centers don’t really help the community. They have a tendency to be a huge, huge strain on natural resources. Some people have even said that you can kind of feel an energy surge,” said Quinette said in a brief interview before the meeting. “Why don’t we keep these green spaces? It’s not going to create jobs. What is it going to do for the people?”
Protester and Fort Pierce resident Lashaie Rivers said, “I just care for the health and well-being of the society.”
National Data Impact Coalition president and founder Rachel Smith and vice president Elizabeth Pandich attended both the protest and the meeting. The coalition’s purpose is to “educate, empower and protect.”
They both felt that the outcome of the meeting was positive. “I think it’s good because it gives us more time to educate. They saw the public pushback. There’s always strength in numbers,” Smith said.