Florida Planning Commission Rejects Massive 1GW Data Center Development Proposal

Planning Commission Votes Against Data Center Proposal

Local planning officials in St. Lucie County, Florida have recommended against approving plans for a massive 1GW data center campus that would have represented one of the largest technology developments in the state, according to reports from local media. The St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-2 last week to recommend denial of a comprehensive plan amendment needed for the project to move forward.

Planning Commission Votes Against Data Center Proposal
Massive Scale and Investment
Agricultural Land Conversion Controversy
Unique Positioning for Technology Demand
Infrastructure and Environmental Considerations
Next Steps and Implications

Massive Scale and Investment

The proposed Sentinel Grove Technology Park, also known as Project Jarvis, would have covered 1,218 acres outside Fort Pierce, sources indicate. The development reportedly represented a total long-term private capital investment of $13.5 billion for the first 1,000MW of data center capacity. Project documents suggested the zoning would allow for up to 15 million square feet of development, with approximately five million square feet planned for the first phase.

Agricultural Land Conversion Controversy

The site, currently zoned for agricultural use as AG-5 Agricultural land, was previously a citrus grove. According to property records, Tallahassee-based land banking investment firm Epic Estates purchased the land for $15 million in July 2024. The proposed conversion of agricultural land to industrial use appears to have been a significant factor in the planning commission’s decision, though official reasoning has not yet been fully detailed.

Unique Positioning for Technology Demand

Project applications argued that the Sentinel Grove site was “uniquely positioned” to capture unmet demand from global technology firms requiring “sites with immediate power adjacency and substantial acreage.” Proponents suggested the county would gain a “first-mover advantage” by accommodating this targeted industry. Despite these arguments, county staff had reportedly recommended approval of the comprehensive plan amendment prior to the commission’s vote.

Infrastructure and Environmental Considerations

The project’s water needs would not have been provided by the county, according to project documents. Instead, the development would have required private, self-contained package treatment facilities for both water and wastewater. The location south and east of the South Florida Water Management District’s C-25 Canal added environmental considerations to the planning process.

Next Steps and Implications

While the planning commission’s recommendation carries significant weight, the final decision rests with the St. Lucie County Commission. The rejection recommendation represents a major setback for one of Florida’s largest proposed data center developments at a time when demand for computing infrastructure continues to grow rapidly nationwide. Industry analysts suggest that the vote highlights increasing challenges facing massive data center projects in regions previously dominated by agricultural and natural landscapes.