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They moved west for the open land, quiet nights, and that “still feels rural” vibe. Now neighbors are gearing up to fight a proposed data center in South Florida that could run 24/7, right next to new communities and within reach of a local school.
The project, known as Project Tango, was framed as Palm Beach County’s entry into the AI boom, and the plan wasn’t small. Developers had expanded proposals for a huge data center and warehouse campus on the 202.7-acre Central Park Commerce Center site at 20125 State Road 80 (Southern Blvd.). The County Planning Commission was set to consider the plans on Dec. 4, following an application filed by PBA Holdings and WPB Logistics Owner LLC. The development team was a partnership between Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co. and Atlanta-based TPA Group.
Key Takeaways
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Project Tango would expand the Central Park Commerce Center site to about 202.67 acres and include a major AI data center component.
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The biggest resident concerns focus on data center noise, backup power systems, traffic, and water/cooling operations.
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A large AI data center 24/7 facility can change how nearby homes are priced and marketed.
Project Tango, explained: the proposed data center in South Florida near Arden
Project Tango is tied to the Central Park Commerce Center site at 20125 State Road 80 (Southern Blvd.) in Loxahatchee, not far from the Arden area. County documents put the site at about 202.67 acres and show the request includes a parking variance for a “Data and Information Processing” use. Local reporting also describes an expanded plan that would add roughly 1.8 million square feet of AI-focused data center space as part of a much larger overall buildout.
Taken together, the zoning paperwork makes one thing clear: this isn’t a minor tweak. It’s a major shift in what the county is being asked to allow on the site.
Old plan vs new plan: what changed in this data center in South Florida proposal
Earlier approvals described a warehouse-heavy plan totaling about 3.28 million square feet, with only 206,000 square feet set aside for data centers. The updated proposal flips that mix, expanding the overall buildout to 3.69 million square feet and boosting the AI-focused data center footprint to about 1.79 million square feet, alongside roughly 1.9 million square feet of warehouses, driving new site changes tied to parking, building placement, and 24/7 operations.
Project Tango concerns
The 24/7 data center noise and backup power
A data center in South Florida is a large industrial-style facility that stores and processes data. AI-focused centers run hotter, need more cooling and power, and often operate 24/7, which is why residents focus on daily impacts, not just what the building looks like.
That’s also why the decibel debate keeps coming up. Some residents cite equipment ranges like 85–100 dB, but the number that matters is what reaches nearby property lines, which depends on final design, placement, and a formal noise study. For context, NIOSH recommends limiting workplace noise exposure to 85 dBA over an 8-hour shift, and OSHA’s permissible exposure limit is 90 dBA over an 8-hour day.
This isn’t only a local issue. Nationwide, data center growth is accelerating, and AI is a big driver. A U.S. Department of Energy release tied to a Lawrence Berkeley National Lab report says data center electricity demand could double or triple by 2028, and Berkeley Lab estimates U.S. data centers used 176 TWh in 2023, about 4.4% of total U.S. electricity, with a projected range of 6.7% to 12% by 2028.
The “parking” request acts like a buildout lever
One of the most important, and easiest to overlook, parts of Project Tango is the parking variance request. County documents describe a proposal to reduce required parking for “Data and Information Processing” from 1 space per 250 square feet to 1 space per 2,000 square feet. Supporters argue that data centers have relatively few employees, so oversized parking fields would sit empty and create unnecessary pavement. Critics see another side: fewer required spaces can also free up land and increase site flexibility, making it easier to fit more building area or adjust layouts over time.
What happens next for this data center in South Florida
Palm Beach County commissioners voted 7–0 to postpone the Project Tango application to April 23, 2026, saying they needed more impact studies after heavy public turnout. Between now and that meeting is when the most consequential work is expected to happen, including deeper traffic and construction planning, noise modeling with real mitigation measures, potential site layout changes with added buffers, and the drafting of specific conditions that can become enforceable later.
What this could mean for homebuyers near a proposed data center in South Florida
A proposed data center in South Florida typically affects real estate in a tight radius, not across the whole county. Homes closest to the site can see more buyer hesitation, longer decision cycles, and tougher negotiations, mostly driven by concerns about 24/7 operations, cooling-system noise, backup generator testing, and construction traffic. Farther out, impacts often fade quickly, especially if there are strong buffers and enforceable operating limits. For sellers and buyers, the biggest swing factor is rarely the “data center” label itself; it’s what gets written into approval conditions and what can be measured later (noise limits, generator rules, truck routes, and construction hours).
FAQ About Project Tango
Where is the Project Tango site?
It’s tied to the Central Park Commerce Center area at 20125 State Road 80 (Southern Blvd.), Loxahatchee.
How large is the site?
Palm Beach County documents list about 202.67 acres.
Why do residents focus on noise?
A data center in South Florida can run 24/7, with cooling and mechanical equipment operating overnight. Residents want formal noise studies and enforceable limits.
What is the parking change being requested?
A parking variance to reduce requirements for “Data and Information Processing” use from 1 space per 250 sq ft to 1 space per 2,000 sq ft.
Why do data centers need so much electricity?
Servers and cooling systems run constantly, and AI servers can increase power density. DOE/LBNL reporting shows fast-growing data center demand nationally.
Did Palm Beach County approve Project Tango?
Commissioners postponed the application to April 23, 2026, for more impact review.
Local help for buyers, sellers, and investors in Palm Beach County
If you’re buying, selling, or investing in South Florida, focus on the details that can shape day-to-day living and long-term value noise and operating conditions, construction timelines, truck routes, buffers, insurance and flood risk, and the local pricing trends that show how buyers are reacting in real time.
For clear, hands-on guidance across Palm Beach County, reach out to The Mastropieri Group, Realtors® at (561) 544-7000.
Posted by Larry Mastropieri
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