PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL — Palm Beach County residents urged county commissioners to pause or reject a proposed data center known as Project Tango during the public-comment portion of the June 2, 2026, Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners meeting.
Several speakers focused on the proposed site’s proximity to the Arden community and nearby homes, raising concerns about noise, water use, electricity demand, fire protection, transparency and whether the project fits the area.
Natalie Frazier, who identified herself as an Arden resident, told commissioners she opposed Project Tango and asked them to vote no. She said residents have been seeking public records since February 2026 and argued that the remaining time before a future vote or zoning hearing does not give residents enough time to review the information.
Frazier also said an elementary school is about 1,200 feet from the proposed data center site, according to her comments during the meeting. She said children living in the community could be affected both at school and at home if the project brings noise or pollution.
“We’re not against data centers,” Frazier said during public comment. “We’re just against it being so close to our homes.”
Cynthia Briggs, also from Arden, raised broader concerns about artificial intelligence and data centers, including environmental impacts, freshwater demand and the effect of large-scale development on rural communities. Briggs urged commissioners to make preservation of wetlands, water systems, wildlife habitats and rural communities a priority.
Dr. Jeff Moorman, who said he lives in the Fox Trail development in Loxahatchee, also opposed the project at its proposed location. Moorman said he and his wife are not against data centers in general, but believe more due diligence is needed before a decision is made.
Moorman said residents have heard concerns about a constant hum, heat, possible water impacts and pressure on the electric grid. He asked for a presentation from an objective expert on the environmental effects of data centers before commissioners make a decision.
“Our problem is that we have not heard sufficient due diligence to make an informed decision, particularly at its planned location,” Moorman told commissioners.
Sierra Club speakers also addressed the issue. Linda Smith of Jupiter, speaking on behalf of the Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group, asked commissioners to direct staff to develop zoning guardrails for what she described as “hyper data centers.” She also called for a moratorium while those rules are considered.
Gail Ladd of Jupiter, who also identified herself as a Sierra Club member, said data centers raise issues involving noise, water, electricity use and transparency. She said the Project Tango site appears to be near homes and schools across a canal and questioned whether the proposed use should be treated as light industrial.
Ladd suggested a zoning change or a moratorium while the county studies the issue further.
Other public-comment topics during the same meeting included Nickels Forest in Boynton Beach, county recycling access, Tri-Rail, transit-oriented housing and public transportation concerns.
During the Nickels Forest comments, one speaker asked commissioners to help protect the forest. A commissioner responded that the forest is within the City of Boynton Beach and said the County Commission has no say over what the city does with land under city jurisdiction. Commissioner Gregg Weiss added that there may be restrictions on land previously transferred from Palm Beach County to Boynton Beach, but said another portion had been privately sold and did not carry the same restrictions.
For Project Tango, the central request from residents was clear: pause the proposal, require more public information and study the potential impacts before any final decision.
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