New 203-Acre Data Center Proposed in Western St. Lucie County Near Interstate 95

A large tract of land in western St. Lucie County could be transformed into a data center, according to a rezoning application submitted to the city of Fort Pierce. The proposal, filed by Willow Lakes LLC, covers 203 acres off West Midway Road adjacent to Interstate 95, with 174 acres designated for light industrial use to accommodate the facility.

The application, submitted in June, states that "the applicant intends to develop a data center on the portion of the property to be zoned Light Industrial." The remaining 26 acres would be zoned for general commercial use, potentially including a hotel, gas station, and restaurants or fast-food outlets, according to the filing.

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from local residents. Parker Whiteside, who lives about a mile and a half from the site, expressed strong opposition, saying she values the quiet, open character of the area. "You have a beautiful view all the time," she said. When asked about the potential data center, her reaction was immediate: "I hate that idea."

The land was originally slated for the Koa Bay Surf Park Community, developed by Devcon Enterprises. Attorney Lee Dobbins, representing Willow Lakes LLC, said those plans fell through after the property owner was unable to raise sufficient capital for the project. "He was looking at what else he could potentially do at the property," Dobbins said.

Dobbins noted that the landowner believes the site is well-suited for a data center, citing existing Florida Power & Light transmission lines on the property and a man-made lake that could support a closed-loop cooling system. These features are seen as critical infrastructure advantages for data center operations, which require substantial power and efficient cooling capabilities.

Fort Pierce City Commissioner Michael Broderick said the proposal could be an appropriate use of the land, but he has conditions. "Data centers are kind of the rage right now," Broderick said. He wants developers to demonstrate there will be no impact to groundwater, no impacts to user fees from power consumption, and no noise pollution. "If they don't, then I will not be supportive of it," he added.

The rezoning application indicates that, if approved, the applicant intends to enter into an agreement with a partner company that would develop the data center. According to the filing, "the partner company would need to submit to the City a site plan application for the proposed data center and obtain City approval of the site plan."

The proposal is scheduled to go before the Planning and Zoning Board on Sept. 17, where it will face public scrutiny and a formal review process. The outcome could shape the future of this rural corridor, as data center demand continues to surge across Florida and the broader Southeast United States.