Commission rezones interior of Anchor Faith Mall to commercial‑intensive, bars data centers

The Board of County Commissioners approved a rezoning that shifts an interior 9.56‑acre parcel at the Anchor Faith Mall from Commercial General (CG) to Commercial Intensive (CI) to accommodate existing mall uses that, staff said, are more appropriately classified as CI.

James Whitehouse, counsel for the applicant, told the board the request is limited to an inner area of the mall property and that outside buffers will remain in Commercial General to preserve transitions to adjacent properties. Planning staff and the Planning & Zoning Agency reviewed the materials and recommended approval; the PZA voted 7‑0 in favor.

Public comment was mixed: several residents and business owners warned that CI zoning could permit heavier industrial uses, including data centers, and raised concerns about traffic, water and electricity demands. The applicant and staff repeatedly said there was no current plan for data centers and that the rezoning responds to legal zoning classifications for malls and vehicle storage tied to adjacent dealerships. In response to public concern, the applicant agreed to conditions and the board added two enforceable conditions to the ordinance: a prohibition on data centers on the rezoned parcel and a waiver of Live Local Act benefits for the property.

Commissioners voted 5‑0 to adopt Ordinance 2026‑13 approving the rezoning with those two conditions. Staff said the change aligns with the county comprehensive plan and the Mixed‑Use District objectives; the ordinance and written conditions will be published in the county code and enforced through permitting.