DeSoto County Blocks Two Major Data Center Rezoning Requests

The DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners blocked two major rezoning requests for a proposed hyperscale data center campus near Arcadia, Florida, in back-to-back tie votes on October 28 and 29. The project, developed by DCIP Group, sought to convert agricultural land into a complex of natural gas-powered facilities across approximately 826 acres.

On Tuesday, the board failed to approve a rezoning application for a 238-acre portion of the site after a 2-2 tie vote, which occurred because Commissioner Steve Hickox recused himself due to a potential conflict of interest. On Wednesday, the commission again tied 2-2 to deny a separate request for 554 acres known as the Swisher Property. To salvage the proposal, DCIP Group CEO Jon Brown presented modified plans that removed a planned power-generation facility and increased noise setbacks for nearby homes, but the changes did not secure enough support.

Opponents and county planning staff cited concerns over noise pollution, water consumption, and industrial wastewater disposal. Planning Director Misty Servia noted that a lack of operational details and a lack of existing regulations for data centers made the proposal difficult to evaluate. While some supporters argued the project would provide essential tax revenue for the rural county, opposing commissioners argued the massive scale of the facilities did not align with the county's urban expansion philosophy. The developer had previously secured approval for a smaller 34-acre site in March.