🌅 St. Lucie Shuts Down $13B Data Center Project

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☀️ Day: High of 81°F | Partly cloudy. Winds ENE at 10-15 mph. 15% chance of rain.
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What's Going On: The St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-2 last night to deny a proposed 1,218-acre data center project on Orange Avenue west of Fort Pierce. The project would have been one of the largest private investments in county history.

By the Numbers:

Money, Money, Money: The developer pitched this as a massive economic opportunity, potentially the largest private investment in St. Lucie County history with $13.2 billion in capital investment. The project promised high-wage jobs and a 16% increase in property tax revenue.

The problem: Commissioners and residents weren't buying it.

What killed it:

Traffic: The project sits on a two-lane dirt road (Minute Maid Road) with a 30-mile speed limit. Commissioner Odell hammered the applicant for not including construction phase traffic analysis. With "thousands of skilled trade positions" mentioned but never quantified, commissioners couldn't assess the real impact. One resident compared it to building a power plant, massive short-term construction traffic that the rural roads can't handle.

Water: Data centers use massive amounts of water for cooling. The project would need permits from South Florida Water Management District, but those don't exist yet. One commissioner pointed out the property could generate over 9 million gallons of stormwater runoff from a single inch of rain on 344 acres of buildings. With shell deposits underneath the property, residents questioned how they'd even hold water in retention ponds.

It just doesn't fit: Vice Chair Slade grew up in the area and said it plainly: "When we talk about land use and where it's at, it doesn't fit the surrounding area. Plain and simple." The project would put 80-foot industrial buildings in the heart of St. Lucie County's remaining agricultural land, next to century-old cattle ranches.

The neighbors showed up: Peter Harrison from 4H Ranch (1,402 acres adjacent to the south) called it "unprecedented" and urged commissioners to visit existing data centers in Virginia/Maryland to see what they're really approving. Charles Pascal, who owns property to the north, said transmission lines aren't normally tapped and questioned where power would actually come from. Cynthia Adams of Adams Ranch made an emotional plea: "You look at that picture over there on the wall. That is the last area we have left in St. Lucie County. Please don't destroy it."

Noise concerns: Residents mentioned hearing the Okeechobee Music Festival from miles away when the wind is right. A facility with 24/7 cooling fans and potentially 126 diesel generators would be audible for miles. One resident cited studies showing data center noise causes sleep disturbance, headaches, hypertension, and anxiety.

What happens next: The denial recommendation goes to the Board of County Commissioners. The project would still need to go through state review by the Department of Commerce, FDOT, and other agencies even if approved. Then a detailed site plan (PNRD) would be required.

💭 Your take: Should St. Lucie County allow data centers in agricultural areas? What should the county prioritize, tax revenue or preserving rural character? Share your thoughts here.

Airport Director Todd Scher told City Council that paid parking is "probably inevitable" as three airlines prepare to serve Vero Beach by February. Officials plan to create an employee-only lot to free up 40-45 short-term spaces daily and will hear a pitch October 17th from a company interested in leasing airport property for paid long-term parking.

👉 Read more

The city turned down every proposal to lease the iconic 80-year-old waterfront property, including one from current operators Salty 3 Baitshack, saying none met qualifications. Michigan restaurant owners Luigi and Drita Lucaj, who believe their proposal scored highest, plan to file a formal protest as the beloved bait shop continues operating month-to-month while the city restarts the bidding process.

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Over 700 residents signed a petition against the city's $27.5 million investment in a 6,000-seat USL stadium at the Walton & One project, citing traffic concerns on Walton Road and US 1. City spokesperson Scott Samples says the tax increment financing funds can only be used for revitalization in that specific district, not for parks or roads elsewhere, with soccer matches expected to begin in 2027.

👉 Read more

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I want to thank everybody for being here over the last two or three days. We've had over 150 new people coming to Sunderland News. I just appreciate y'all so, so very much. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm going to reply to everybody's emails this weekend, so look out for that. And otherwise, I'll see you soon. Alright.

See you Monday!
With Love, Ja’Min

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