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Osceola County board advances ordinance to define data centers after public hearing
Summary
The Osceola County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing June 9 on Ordinance 66, which would add a definition and zoning framework for data centers (including cloud computing) to the county's 2013 zoning code; the board voted to waive further readings and advance the ordinance. Residents raised concerns about local oversight and developer guarantees.
The Osceola County Board of Supervisors on June 9 held a public hearing on Ordinance 66, a proposal to amend the county's 2013 zoning ordinance by adding a definition and regulations for data centers, and voted to waive the second and third readings so the measure can proceed.
Planning staff told the board the amendment is intended to provide clarity about where data centers would be allowed and how they would be reviewed. "At this point, at least get a definition on the books and an appropriate zoning district," the planning official said, noting that the General Industrial District would likely be the appropriate zone and that "cloud computing" was included as a typical data-center use.
Why it matters: defining data centers in the zoning code sets the procedural path for any future proposals. Planning staff said most current county land is not zoned for large, 'mega' data centers, but smaller facilities could fit in existing General Industrial areas. Under the county's process, a developer seeking to site a data center would still need a planning-commission rezoning public hearing and a subsequent board hearing before permitting could proceed.
During the public-comment period a resident urged stronger local input and safeguards. "If you get your township plat book out, there are 12. There should be one person elected through the voting to represent that district," the resident said, arguing township representatives would give more people a voice in development decisions and help ensure developers are bonded so taxpayers do not absorb cleanup costs.
An electric cooperative representative told the board the local transmission and contractual limits shape what data centers the county could host. The representative said cooperative agreements limit each member to approximately 25 megawatts so as not to overburden other members, and described existing small data-center sites in the county at roughly 4 megawatts. "If it's not a benefit to the historical members of Osterola Electric, we're gonna walk away from it," he said.
Board action: After discussion the board voted to waive the additional readings of Ordinance 66; the motion carried by voice vote. The waiver allows the ordinance to move forward on the board's calendar; any rezoning for a specific project would still require a public hearing at the planning commission and a recommendation to the board.
Next steps: Ordinance 66 will proceed under the county's adoption process; specific proposals for data centers would trigger separate rezoning and permitting proceedings with public notice to nearby property owners and a planning commission review.
