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County attorney: Hardee County code currently prohibits data centers; any change would require code amendment
Summary
County Attorney reported that Hardee County's Unified Land Development Code does not permit data centers or any materially similar use; an application would be denied under current code. The memo reviewed concerns other jurisdictions have seen (energy and water demand, noise, lighting, decommissioning) and highlighted state statutory developments to consider when drafting rules.
The county attorney reported that Hardee County's Unified Land Development Code does not currently permit data centers and that there is no materially similar permitted use in the code; consequently a data‑center application would be denied unless the board first amends the code. The attorney cited recent legislative guidance (Senate Bill 484) and observed that jurisdictions that promoted data centers have later faced concerns about utility impacts, noise from generators and reuse/decommissioning of large warehouse‑scale facilities.
Commissioners discussed that data centers can expand tax base but raised environmental and infrastructure questions (electric and water demand, noise impacts and long‑term reuse). The attorney recommended that if the board wants to explore allowing data centers it should consider targeted code amendments with buffers, decommissioning plans, noise limits, and infrastructure provisions; otherwise the current prohibition will continue to prevent such projects.
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