Pasco Commissioners Adopt Data Center Moratorium, Approve Major Rezonings

Data Center Moratorium Approved After Lengthy Public Comment

During the afternoon session of the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners meeting on July 14, 2026, commissioners held the second public hearing on a proposed ordinance placing a temporary, one-year moratorium on new applications for data centers and other large power-demand facilities in unincorporated Pasco County. Staff said the moratorium, if adopted, would apply retroactively to May 27, 2026, under a legal doctrine the board applied earlier this year. The ordinance was revised since earlier hearings to lower an exemption threshold for small accessory data centers from 10 megawatts to 2.5 megawatts and to add electronic-waste disposal as a required condition for any future development agreement allowing such a use.

The county attorney told commissioners that federal case law generally limits moratoriums like this to about one year, meaning proposals from some speakers for a three-to-five-year or permanent ban would not be legally supportable, though the board could consider incremental extensions after the initial year if warranted. Dozens of residents spoke, with most supporting the moratorium and several urging the board to go further. One speaker specifically asked whether a proposed data center near Interstate 75 and State Road 52 would be covered, and a planning official confirmed that project could not proceed under the moratorium. Several speakers raised unverified concerns about water use, aquifer contamination, and health effects near data centers elsewhere; these claims were not independently verified in the meeting record.

After public comment concluded, the board voted unanimously, 5-0, to adopt the moratorium.

Watch this discussion: 0:00:01 · 0:05:05 · 0:09:54 · 0:38:11 · 0:45:15

Major Rezonings: Mitchell 41 Development and Two Rivers Expansion

Commissioners approved several significant land-use changes. The Mitchell U.S. 41 project, covering roughly 1,219 acres on the west side of U.S. 41 north of State Road 52, was rezoned from a mix of residential, industrial, office and conservation designations to a Planned Development, correcting an older policy that would have required a high percentage of multifamily housing. That approval passed 5-0. A companion rezoning for the same tract — the Mitchell 41 Master Planned Unit Development — proposed 2,100 residential units, 880,000 square feet of light industrial space and 99,000 square feet of office space on the property, with staff citing preservation of nearly 99% of on-site wetlands and about 47% of tree canopy. After public comment concluded, the board moved to approve, received a second, and voted unanimously in favor.

Commissioners also voted to transmit — not finally adopt — a comprehensive plan amendment for the Two Rivers planned development along State Road 56, which would raise the residential unit cap from 6,400 to 6,547 and add uses including a hotel, assisted living beds, retail space and a water park capped at 35 acres. Transmittal sends the amendment to the state for review; a separate future hearing will be required for final adoption. Several residents opposed the item, citing water-quality and protected-species concerns near Indian Creek and the Hillsborough River, and alleging an unpermitted burn on the property; these allegations were not verified during the meeting.

Watch this discussion: 2:19:38 · 2:29:23 · 2:41:06 · 2:52:34 · 2:59:09

Assisted Living, Amusement Park and Tower Rezonings Approved

The board approved a rezoning for a roughly 7.66-acre assisted living and memory care community, called Reilla Ranch, in the Village of Pasadena Hills, over objections from residents who argued the project conflicted with the area's rural character and comprehensive plan. One commissioner voiced reservations, comparing the project to a nearby development where earlier architectural commitments were not fully realized, but the board ultimately approved it 5-0 with a condition binding the developer to the specific building elevations shown at the hearing.

Commissioners also approved an amusement park site consolidation and a related expansion of alcohol service from beer and wine to full liquor at an existing entertainment complex, despite opposition citing rural road safety, unfinished environmental reviews and pending transportation improvements not expected until 2027. Both items passed unanimously. A wireless communication tower proposal near Lanier Road was approved as well, after county staff said earlier neighbor objections were resolved when the applicant reduced the tower height and added landscaping.

Watch this discussion: 1:55:36 · 2:11:04 · 2:34:40 · 3:07:11

Property Tax Rates and Fire Rescue Funding Restructuring

Commissioners set proposed maximum property tax rates for the upcoming budget year, a required step before mailing tax notices to property owners; rates can still be lowered before final adoption in September but cannot be raised. Most levies, including the general operating rate, fire, parks, and stormwater rates, were proposed with no net increase, while water and wastewater utility rates are set to rise under a previously approved rate study.

Commissioners debated how quickly to shift funding for fire rescue services out of the general fund and into a dedicated Fire Municipal Services Taxing Unit. Rather than moving the full amount at once, which would have required unanimous board approval later this year, the board adopted a hybrid approach moving about half the shift now, requiring only four affirmative votes in September rather than five. This lowers the general operating tax rate to 7.2593 mills while raising the fire rescue rate by a matching amount, intended to keep the overall tax bill roughly stable for residents. The change passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The first public budget hearing was set for September 9, 2026, at 5:15 p.m. in Dade City.

Watch this discussion: 3:19:53 · 3:27:00 · 3:35:47 · 3:36:18

Building Permit Fees Restructured Under New State Law

The board considered changes to building permit fees required by a new state law that eliminates fees based on a project's construction value. County staff described the proposal as an interim fix while a full fee study is completed later this year, shifting commercial permit fees to a per-square-foot basis similar to residential permits already in use. Staff cited an example in which a past commercial project had paid a substantial permit fee under the old valuation-based system, which officials said the new structure is intended to prevent.

The changes also implement a state-mandated exemption allowing minor home improvement work valued at $7,500 or less to proceed without a permit, though this does not apply to structural, electrical, plumbing or mechanical work, nor to homes in flood zones. The building permit fee resolution passed by a voice vote during the session.

Watch this discussion: 3:38:31 · 3:41:37 · 3:50:45 · 3:52:16

Code Enforcement Concerns and Staff Transition

Near the end of the session, a commissioner raised concerns about inconsistent enforcement of rules governing paver driveways in road right-of-way areas, saying county practice differs from neighboring counties and that current code enforcement is not effectively addressing complaints. Staff acknowledged the issue but did not present a resolution; a motion followed and passed on a voice vote.

The meeting closed with commissioners marking the final board meeting of a longtime county attorney's office staff member after 17 years of service, with a successor attorney's contract having been approved earlier in the day.

Watch this discussion: 3:53:12 · 3:55:58 · 3:56:21

Source: 7.14.26 Pasco Board of County Commissioners Meeting (Afternoon Session), Pasco County Government. This AI-assisted summary is based on the recording’s transcript, which can contain transcription errors. It is not official meeting minutes. Timestamp links let readers check the original discussion.