UPDATE (March 2026): The February 25 town hall drew hundreds of residents who booed and catcalled presenters. The petition has grown to over 8,000 signatures. Developers have scaled the project back to approximately 1 million square feet (down from 3.69 million). The April 23, 2026 zoning vote is still scheduled.
AI data centers are the new normal in South Florida. A proposed facility near Loxahatchee is drawing backlash, but the site sits next to an FPL power plant in an already industrial corridor. Here's what buyers and homeowners need to know.
Key Takeaways
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Project Tango was originally proposed as a 3.69 million-square-foot AI data center spanning over 200 acres in unincorporated Palm Beach County, but developers have since scaled it back to approximately 1 million square feet after community pushback.
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Despite local opposition (now over 8,000 petition signatures), the site sits in an already industrial corridor adjacent to an existing FPL power plant and reclaimed water infrastructure.
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The Palm Beach County Commission will vote on the project April 23, 2026. How the county handles this proposal could set a precedent for future AI data center projects across South Florida.
AI data centers are coming to South Florida. Project Tango, a proposed data center campus at 20125 Southern Blvd (State Road 80) in Loxahatchee, is one of the largest tech infrastructure projects proposed for Palm Beach County. And while it has drawn significant opposition from nearby residents, the site's location tells a different story than the headlines suggest.
The proposed data center sits adjacent to an existing Florida Power and Light facility and existing reclaimed water infrastructure. This is not a residential neighborhood where developers are trying to squeeze in industrial use. It is already an industrial corridor with the power and water systems these facilities require.
That context matters. AI data centers are becoming the new norm across the Southeast as tech companies race to build computing capacity. The question is not whether these facilities will be built, but where they will be built. And from an infrastructure standpoint, this Loxahatchee site may be better positioned than most. Currently, there are 12 data centers already active between Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, though Project Tango would be one of the largest.
What is Project Tango, and why does this site make sense?
Project Tango is the code name for a proposed AI data center campus between Southern Boulevard and 20 Mile Bend. The project was originally approved in 2016 as a conventional data center, but developers returned requesting an additional 64 acres to accommodate the shift to AI-scale operations.
After community pushback, the project has been scaled back from approximately 3.69 million square feet to around 1 million square feet.
Why this location works: The site sits adjacent to an existing FPL power plant and reclaimed water infrastructure. Larry Mastropieri, a real estate broker with an engineering background who previously worked on utility infrastructure projects in this area, explained on the Discover South Florida Podcast:
"I'm not so worried about the reclaimed water issue. That's right in the pipeline of that reclaimed water supply, which is pretty cool because it's already going to FPL. I know this way too well because I used to help them. I helped them design it."
On the noise concerns raised by residents: "They're right next to Florida Power and Light. That's not any quieter. I get it if it's in a residential neighborhood and they pop in this thing. This is kind of already an industrial area."
Who is behind Project Tango: PBA Holdings (Palm Beach Aggregates LLC), a local company with agricultural and rock-mining ties, is the landowner. Phillips Inc., a Tennessee-based infrastructure contractor, and TPA Group, an Atlanta-based real estate investment firm, are also involved. The actual end user, likely Amazon, Microsoft, or Google, remains hidden behind the code name per Florida law.
What about utility costs: FPL has stated that unlike in other states, existing consumers will not pay more for electricity if the project moves forward. All costs would be passed through to the operators.
Considering buying in western Palm Beach County? Understanding how infrastructure projects like data centers affect different neighborhoods matters. Talk to a real estate agent near West Palm Beach who tracks these developments. Reach out to The Mastropieri Group or call (561) 556-9853.
What concerns have residents raised?
Despite the site's industrial context, residents from nearby communities have organized significant opposition. More than 50 people attended a December 2025 commission meeting, and the February 25, 2026 town hall drew hundreds of residents who booed and catcalled presenters trying to explain the project. A Change.org petition has gathered over 8,000 signatures. The Palm Beach County Commission voted 7-0 to postpone the application until April 23, 2026, pending additional impact studies.
The application was initially placed on the consent agenda, reserved for routine approvals. That decision drew criticism from Commissioner Maria Sachs and residents who felt it was being fast-tracked without proper review. Sachs noted the difference between the original 2016 approval and the current proposal: "This is not merely a bigger project. It's a different project entirely. The data centers of 2016 and the massive data facilities now fueling the AI boom are a world apart. It's the difference between building a stall for three horses and building a racetrack."
Concerns cited by residents include:
- Noise: Low-frequency hums from cooling towers, servers, and diesel generators.
- Water consumption: Heavy water usage for cooling systems.
- Air quality: Diesel generator emissions.
- Proximity: The Arden community (2,500 homes) and Saddle View Elementary School are nearby.
Residents launched two opposition websites (notoprojecttango.com and stopprojecttango.org). However, it is worth noting that TPA Group, one of the developers involved, has navigated similar opposition before. Their "Project Marvel" in Alabama, a $14.5 billion hyperscale data center, was approved in late 2025 despite local pushback. The project was later relocated to a nearby site after infrastructure adjustments.
What does this mean for property values in western Palm Beach County?
For homeowners in Royal Palm Beach, Westlake, Wellington, and The Acreage, the key question is whether this project changes the character of the area. The answer depends on how you view the site.
If Project Tango were proposed in the middle of a residential subdivision, the property value concerns would be significant. But this site already sits next to a power plant in an industrial corridor. From that perspective, adding a data center to an already industrial area may have less impact on surrounding residential values than opponents suggest.
AI data centers also bring economic benefits: jobs, tax revenue, and infrastructure investment. Palm Beach County's western corridor is one of the fastest-growing areas in South Florida. Managing that growth means finding appropriate locations for both residential and industrial development.
Buyers considering Loxahatchee or the surrounding communities should monitor the April 23 zoning decision. But the industrial location of this particular site may make it less of a concern than headlines suggest.
AI data centers are the new norm. What happens next?
Whether Project Tango is approved or not, AI data centers are coming to South Florida. The demand for computing power is accelerating, and Florida's business-friendly environment makes it a target for tech infrastructure investment.
Zoning Meeting: April 23, 2026. The Palm Beach County Commission will vote on the Project Tango application after reviewing additional impact studies. The project has been scaled back to approximately 1 million square feet from the original 3.69 million square feet.
State Legislation: Governor DeSantis announced plans for a Florida "AI Bill of Rights" and a companion bill on data centers in late 2025. However, it now appears unlikely anything will pass this session, as House Republicans are deferring to the Trump administration on AI regulation. If state-level rules do eventually pass, they could establish clearer standards for where these facilities can be built.
The bigger picture: this is not the last AI data center proposal Palm Beach County will see. Finding appropriate sites, ideally in industrial corridors like this one rather than residential neighborhoods, will be an ongoing challenge as South Florida grows. How the county handles Project Tango could set a precedent for future proposals across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions about Project Tango
What is Project Tango?
Project Tango is a proposed AI data center campus spanning over 200 acres in unincorporated Palm Beach County near Loxahatchee. Originally proposed at 3.69 million square feet, it has been scaled back to approximately 1 million square feet after community opposition. The site is adjacent to an existing FPL power plant and its reclaimed water infrastructure. PBA Holdings is the landowner, with Phillips Inc. and TPA Group involved in the development. The actual end user (likely a major tech company) is hidden under the code name.
When is the Project Tango zoning vote?
The Palm Beach County Commission will vote on April 23, 2026, after reviewing additional impact studies. The vote was originally scheduled for December 2025 but was postponed 7-0 following community outcry. The project has since been scaled back significantly.
Is Project Tango being built in a residential area?
No. The site sits adjacent to an existing Florida Power and Light facility in an industrial corridor. While the Arden community and other residential developments are in the broader area, the project location itself is already zoned and used for industrial purposes.
Why are AI data centers becoming more common?
The demand for AI computing power is accelerating rapidly. Tech companies need large facilities with access to power and water for cooling systems. Florida's business-friendly environment makes it a target for this type of infrastructure investment. Projects like Tango are part of a broader trend across the Southeast. There are already 12 data centers active between Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
How could Project Tango affect property values?
The impact depends on perspective. Because the site sits in an already industrial corridor next to a power plant, adding a data center may have less effect on surrounding residential property values than if it were proposed in a purely residential area. AI data centers also create jobs and generate tax revenue for the region. FPL has committed that existing consumers will not pay more for electricity if the project moves forward.
Local help for buyers and investors in western Palm Beach County
If you are buying, selling, or investing in Loxahatchee, Royal Palm Beach, Westlake, or Wellington, understanding how infrastructure projects fit into the broader growth picture matters. Reach out to The Mastropieri Group, Realtors®.
For practical, hands-on support across western Palm Beach County, call (561) 556-9853.
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