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Indiantown officials say water capacity must come first as data‑center and annexation proposals move forward

Joint meeting of Martin County School Board, Martin County Commission, City of Stewart Commission, Village of Indiantown · February 17, 2026

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Summary

Village staff and commissioners told a joint meeting that prospective data centers must be self‑sufficient for utilities; Indiantown is pursuing Floridan wells and a reverse‑osmosis plant (estimated construction cost about $60 million) and advancing voluntary annexations and a large comprehensive‑plan amendment.

Pat Nolan, director of public works and utilities for the Village of Indiantown, presented multiple utility projects and explained why the village is pursuing deeper Floridan wells and a reverse‑osmosis (RO) treatment plant.

"So to build these Floridan wells, you need to treat it. That would be the reverse osmosis treatment process... Our estimates right now are about $60,000,000 to build that plant. We haven't figured out what it's gonna cost to operate it yet," Nolan said.

Dina Freeman, Indiantown’s community economic development director, listed industrial and commercial projects under review or construction in the village and described ongoing voluntary annexations and land‑use amendments, including a large proposal labeled Project Parrot and a Beskar Investments LLC annexation involving Florida Power & Light land.

Several elected officials and residents raised concerns about proposed data centers' water consumption, electrical demand, noise and limited local job creation. Freeman said the village does not expect municipal utilities to supply the high volumes such facilities need: "We have made it very clear they have to be self sufficient... Do not rely on the village." Village staff said funding and utility capacity constraints are central to whether large projects proceed.

Next steps: Village staff are preparing staff reports and newspaper advertising for annexation hearings; Project Parrot was reported ready for a village second reading at the end of February. The RO project is at the funding and planning stage; staff said additional O&M cost work remains before a final construction financing plan is set.