Palm Beach County commissioners deny Project Tango data‑center application amid unresolved noise and water concerns

Palm Beach County commissioners voted 5–1 to deny an application for a hyperscale data‑center complex — known in the hearing as Project Tango — after an extended, technical hearing that left officials unconvinced the proposal adequately protects nearby residents, a school and local resources.

The board’s decision followed hours of testimony from the applicant’s attorneys and technical experts, county staff and independent witnesses on operational noise, low‑frequency sound and wastewater handling. The denial, made without prejudice, allows the applicant to revise and resubmit under future or revised regulations.

Why it matters: commissioners said the project’s scale, operational profile and potential off‑site effects differ materially from uses previously approved for the Palm Beach Aggregates site and that critical details about long‑term monitoring and water‑disposal safeguards remained unresolved. Commissioners repeatedly asked how the county would verify modeled noise outcomes and who bears the burden — and what happens if measured levels exceed permitted limits.

Applicant rebuttal and conditions Brian Seymour, attorney for the applicant, told the board the project’s technical reports — on file with the county since April — are defensible and that the applicant was willing to “redo the study” and accept conditions aimed at ensuring compliance. "We are going to literally step up and … redo the study," Seymour said, adding the applicant would accept binding conditions and even reimburse the county if it hires outside verification experts.

Noise, metrics and monitoring Acoustical consultants for the applicant described the modeling and the frequency bands used in analysis, noting octave‑band data from about 31.5 Hz to 8,000 Hz and that both A‑ and C‑weighting (dBA and dBC) — and DBC for low frequencies — were considered. The consultants said modeled levels at the property line would meet county limits, including a 50‑decibel nighttime benchmark cited during testimony.

Still, several commissioners and residents pressed on low‑frequency impacts to animals and schoolchildren. Commissioner Flores asked whether the sound profile from a data center differs from existing industrial fans; the applicant’s experts said the character is similar but argued modeled and measured levels would be at or below present ambient conditions. "If your horses are okay now, we’re projecting lower levels," one consultant said during questioning about distance and animal sensitivity.

Health and scientific context Dr. Robert McCunney, a physician and Harvard‑affiliated expert retained to review health implications, told the board he found no peer‑reviewed epidemiologic studies specific to data‑center noise. After reviewing the literature and the project’s modeling, he said the proposed levels were unlikely to produce the severe health outcomes sometimes alleged in public comment. "In my view, no," McCunney said when asked whether the project would cause hardened arteries or strokes via low‑frequency exposure.

Water, PFAS and containment Palm Beach County Water Utility Director Ali Bayou said any cooling wastewater from the closed‑loop system must be hauled off‑site to an approved industrial treatment facility; the county will not accept PFAS‑containing discharges into its sanitary sewer. Staff detailed permit and containment requirements, including interior floor drains for data‑center operations that must discharge to containment tanks sized at a minimum of 125% of the largest isolatable section’s volume.

Fire safety and batteries Assistant Fire Chief Dave Woodside described the national and industry context for data‑center fire protection and battery risks. He said UL and NFPA are evaluating standards (NFPA 75 and 76 apply) but that current commercial safeguards — pre‑action chemical systems and conventional sprinkler approaches — remain the established mitigation measures.

Administrative conversions and master plan scale Staff noted the site’s master plan currently allows more than two million square feet of overall development and that administrative steps could convert warehouse capacity to data‑center use without a separate hearing. Commissioners expressed concern that later administrative changes could expand data‑center footprint absent specific guardrails.

Board reasoning and vote Several commissioners said they were persuaded that important questions about operational monitoring, long‑term verification and potential water‑resource impacts remained open. Commissioner Flores, who moved to deny, cited unresolved technical and operational concerns. The motion to deny without prejudice passed 5–1, with Commissioner Marino dissenting.

What happens next Because the denial was without prejudice, the applicant may return with revised analyses, additional mitigation or new conditions. Staff said the board’s direction will inform administrative reviews of pending applications and that a revised regulatory approach for hyperscale centers is under consideration at the county and state level.

Box: Key conditions discussed in the hearing - Final sound study required after equipment selection and before construction; post‑construction field measurements to verify modeled results. - Recorded measurements to be taken along the property line at intervals not exceeding 400 feet over a 24‑hour period. - Wastewater from cooling systems must be hauled off‑site to an approved treatment facility; no discharge to the Palm Beach County sanitary sewer. - Containment tanks sized to at least 125% of the largest isolatable interior section.

The board adjourned at the conclusion of the vote; the denial is recorded as a county action and staff will advise on administrative implications for pending site applications.