Oct 13, 2026, Sumter County Council regular meeting

Sumter County Council regular meeting, Oct. 13, 2026 (the metadata timestamp is Oct. 14 UTC). Council considered Ordinance 2601 on zoning and development standards for data centers. The proposal would allow facilities under 20,000 square feet in specified commercial and industrial districts, while larger facilities would be limited to heavy industrial zones; residential districts would be excluded. Requirements include public water service and capacity verification, closed-loop cooling (prohibiting open-loop single-use systems), utility capacity confirmation, noise and vibration limits, setbacks—including 1,000 feet from schools for larger facilities—and major site-plan review with updated technical studies for material changes. Following a public hearing and resident concerns about water, electricity, noise, wildlife, and community impacts, Council voted to advance the ordinance on first reading. The data-center moratorium remains in place pending the remaining readings and a separate action to rescind it.

Council also approved a breast cancer awareness proclamation and Resolution 2607, the Safe Streets resolution. During public comment, residents requested county rules for cell towers and raised property-tax oversight concerns; no action on those requests was recorded. No contracts, vendor selections, procurement awards, or spending actions were identified.