Ordinance / DCIP Commercial Data Processing Facility rezone (RZNE-0077-2025)

This ordinance (RZNE-0077-2025) proposes to rezone a 34.22-acre parcel at 3800 NE Roan Street, Arcadia, from Agricultural - 5 (A-5) to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow for the construction and operation of a 35,134 square foot commercial data processing facility and office. The project, known as the DeSoto County Industrial Park (DCIP), is a "rapid response project" for the County's Economic Development Department, expected to create 25 full-time jobs.

Project Details:

• The site was previously an electric generating facility (ceased 2017) and retains significant infrastructure, including an 11,526 SF existing office building, large water and fuel storage tanks, wells, and a Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) station.
• The proposed data center will utilize microgrid power generation for on-site use, with natural gas supplied by an upgraded FGT connection.
• The development includes 25 proposed parking spaces (plus 1 handicap) for the data center, in addition to 15 existing spaces for the office building.
• The project maintains 50-foot front, 30-foot side, and 50-foot rear setbacks, along with existing Type B landscape buffers (55-foot front, 30-foot side).
• Approximately 14% of the site contains wetlands and surface waters, requiring state and federal environmental permits for any impacts.

Conditions for Approval:
The rezone is recommended for approval with several conditions, including:

• Parking must meet 1 space per 1,000 SF for industrial uses or a deviation must be requested.
• Any future data center expansion will require Board approval of an amendment to the Concept Plan.
• On-site power generation is strictly for the project's on-site loads and cannot be sold or distributed to third parties, nor can it violate the County's franchise agreement with Florida Power & Light (FPL).
• Solid waste collection will be provided by a County franchisee.
• The Improvement Plan must include all fire department requirements and a detailed traffic, safety, and operational analysis.

Timeline:
The application was filed on September 17, 2025. The Planning Commission recommended approval on March 3, 2026, and the Board of County Commissioners is tentatively scheduled to hold a public hearing on March 24, 2026. Construction is anticipated to start no earlier than 2026.