City of Alachua Prepares to Open the Door to Data Centers Tuesday, Sept 8th 6pm (tentatively postponed to 9/29)
On May 19, 2026 the City of Alachua hosted a public workshop for Alachua 2050 where hundreds of residents spoke up that they do not want a data center in City limits. (This meeting is part of a mandated process to update the City’s Comprehensive Plan that guides all policy decisions, the deadline to send it to the State is the end of the year.)
(Here is just a sample of the many sticky notes submitted by the public at this workshop that say NO DATA CENTERS.)
At previous public meetings, it was shared repeatedly by City staff that since the City does not have a code regulating data centers, it would be “difficult” for a project to come within the city limits.
So what did the City of Alachua do based on all of the overwhelming public feedback that you do not want a data center? THE CITY IS PROPOSING TO ALLOW DATA CENTERS ON INDUSTRIAL ZONED LAND. The first hearing for this is on Tuesday, September 8, 6pm at Alachua City Hall. (Then it will be reviewed by the City Commission at a hearing date to be determined.)
It gets worse. This is buried in a 396 page document, a draft for the Evaluation and Appraisal Report, without any mention of data centers on the front page of the agenda item. Will Planning & Zoning Board members, every Commissioner, or the Mayor read all 396 pages to understand these implications? Why isn’t the City Manager directing staff to publicize this? It is one of the most important issues to locals, showing up repeatedly to public meetings to be proactive about this topic.
This is why this is important. IF this policy changes, it allows an entity BY RIGHT to put a data center anywhere land is zoned Industrial. Below are screenshots of the City of Alachua map where CURRENT Industrial zoned land is in gray. Land zoning can be changed, we see this frequently, so the gray on this map can evolve in the future.
The time to stop data centers in Alachua BEGINS now.
On Tuesday, September 8th, the Planning & Zoning Board will review this Evaluation Appraisal Report, accept public comment (from YOU!), and vote on a recommendation. This recommendation goes to the City Commission where they will review, accept public comment, and make the final determination.
Yes, the PZB is a recommending body but their votes are important. It is not an opportunity to kick the decision down the road because it’s “up to the City Commission” in the end. Show up, speak up! You get three minutes.
Yes, this draft to include data centers include specific conditions (image below) that sound “far off now” but we cannot find comfort in those. Applicants can ask for exceptions to conditions, they can provide capital to solve a challenge a condition makes. The best solution to prevent a data center, is to not allow a data center!
If the door is open for a data center, it will find a way. Now is the time to KEEP THAT DOOR CLOSED.
Speak Up that you don’t want any language to allow data centers in the City of Alachua Comprehensive Plan!
Tuesday, September 8th, 6pm
Alachua City Hall (15100 NW 142 Terrace, Alachua, FL 32615)
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Send a letter to the City and Commission through the Sierra Club.
Industrial in gray.
