Residents urge planning commission to halt Holder Park rezoning over water and wildlife fears

Dozens of Citrus County residents pressed the Planning and Development Commission on May 21 to stop rezoning and rule changes they say could clear the way for data centers and other heavy industrial uses near Holder Industrial Park.

"Turning an additional 800 acres into heavy industrial zone is incompatible with the current land use that's already in that area," said Tracy Landry, who said she was speaking for neighbors, veterans and retirees who cannot travel to hearings. She asked the commission for "written protections for our residents."

Several speakers raised closely related concerns: water scarcity and wastewater disposal, threats to protected species, noise and long-term drops in home values. John Olving told the commission that local groundwater is already strained and that large cooling systems for data centers would likely require drinking water or create contaminated wastewater, citing Florida Senate Bill 64 in his remarks. "Please think about that when you're rezoning," he said.

Other speakers cited ecological and public-health risks. Anthony AO warned of impacts to the aquifer and named protected species including gopher tortoises and Sherman fox squirrels; Jennifer Matthews described dust- and drought-related health risks she experienced in Arizona and said she feared similar outcomes in Citrus County.

Commissioners and staff told the room that the specific data-center provisions that drew people to tonight’s meeting were pulled from today’s agenda at the request of the Board of County Commissioners and would be considered separately. Miss Kattu and other staff advised residents that the Holder Industrial Park materials will return to the PDC on June 18 and that the BOCC will consider related land-development-code amendments on July 16.

The commission heard several participants announce local organizing: Cheryl Curtis, representing No Data Center Citrus, publicized an informational event; other residents urged the board to adopt clearer definitions and stricter review for heavy industrial uses.

In the legislative portion of the meeting, staff presented an ordinance amendment that would make some heavy-industrial activities — for example, cement batch and asphalt plants — subject to planned-unit-development (PUD) review rather than permitted-by-right status, and would add a limited stormwater exemption for small accessory increases on permitted residential dwelling units. Commissioners voted unanimously to forward the ordinance package, with suggested clarifications, to the Board of County Commissioners for further consideration.

Why it matters: Speakers tied the rezoning to the county’s water supply, tourism and long-term land-use strategy. Several residents warned that new industrial uses could affect Crystal River springs and local wildlife, and urged the commission to require site-specific protections before approving industrial conversions.

What’s next: The Holder Industrial Park rezoning and draft data-center regulations will be heard again by the Planning and Development Commission on June 18; LDC amendments and any PUD proposals would proceed to the Board of County Commissioners after PDC recommendation.