Council approves special exception for data center at Bonita Beach Road corridor

The Bonita Springs City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 3 to approve a special exception allowing a Group 2 essential service facility—characterized in the staff report as a data center—at 27695 Imperial River Road within the Bonita Beach Road corridor overlay.

Mike Feagon of Community Development explained that the city’s land development code treats certain infrastructure-heavy uses (for example, substations or water plants) as Group 2 essential services; because the proposed data center did not fit neatly into another use category, staff and the applicant agreed the Group 2 classification and a special-exception review were appropriate. Feagon said the building will be designed to present as an office building, will not generate significant traffic and is expected to have no more than six employees on site at any one time.

Feagon said the access would be from Imperial River Road and a north roadway shown as West First Street; the project will build the required street frontage in conformance with city codes and will not create a new curb cut on Bonita Beach Road. The zoning board had recommended approval and the applicant agreed to the conditions of approval in the staff report.

Council member Carr moved to approve (mover not identified in the transcript), the motion was seconded and the roll call was all aye. Council members voting in favor were Carr, Mayor Gibson, Corey, Follick, Fitzpatrick, Bogues/Bogaz and Deputy Mayor Purdon.

The resolution approves a special exception under the city Land Development Code (referenced in the staff presentation) and becomes effective upon adoption unless further action is required by conditions of approval and subsequent permits.