Freeport City Council Bans Data Centers, Updates Park Rules at May 28 Meeting
Freeport’s city council voted unanimously Thursday night to ban data centers within city limits, passed new park rules targeting smoking and e-bikes near children’s fields, and approved a change order for the water tower project — all in a packed meeting that touched on issues from saltwater intrusion to Little League scorekeeper platforms.
Data Center Ban Passes Unanimously
Councilwoman Hafner introduced the initiative, citing data centers’ excessive demand on water and electricity grids. The motion received immediate backing from Councilwoman Brandon, who revealed she has received three separate real estate inquiries over the past eight months from entities scouting Freeport land for data center operations.
Local resident Keith Blanchard delivered testimony that tied the data center issue directly to concerns the council had already discussed earlier in the meeting. Drawing on his experience living near a data center in Memphis, Blanchard described how these facilities drastically deplete groundwater — exacerbating the saltwater intrusion problems Freeport is already grappling with — fail to deliver on promised green energy, and produce noise pollution comparable to jet engines.
The council’s unanimous vote directs the City Attorney to draft a formal ordinance. That ordinance will come back for a future vote.
The move comes one day after Walton County commissioners passed their own 5-0 vote to draft a countywide data center ban, signaling coordinated regional concern about the facilities.
Park Rules Get a Refresh
The council approved a package of park updates driven by resident complaints:
Smoking, Vaping, and Drinking (Ordinance 94.2): Citizens had raised concerns about smoking, vaping, and alcohol consumption near children’s sports fields. The updated park rules address those issues directly.
Bikes and E-Bikes Banned from Green Spaces: Councilman Ferris flagged the danger of fast-moving e-bikes navigating crowded fields. A separate motion now explicitly bans all bikes, e-bikes, and unauthorized vehicles from green spaces across all city parks. This is distinct from road and pathway regulations — it applies specifically to the playing fields and grass areas.
Commercial and Nonprofit Park Use (Ordinance 2026-05): The second reading passed for a revised ordinance requiring any park use that generates financial gain or hosts a nonprofit fundraiser to get prior approval from the parks director and pay the corresponding fees.
Little League Scorekeeper Platforms: The council approved the Little League’s request to build scorekeeper platforms behind fields 1, 2, and 3 using donated wood. The finished structures will become city property.
Water Tower and Well Project: Change Order Approved
The council approved a $7,719 unit-price change order for the Highway 3280 water tower and well project. The additional cost covers pilot hole cuttings and an extended well casing needed after drilling hit deeper soil conditions than expected.
City engineers also reported that the Northwest Florida Water Management District will require a monitoring well to watch for saltwater intrusion — a requirement that comes with an estimated $75,000 price tag for a future change order.
Councilwoman Brandon expressed frustration over immediate change orders right at the project’s launch, noting the timing is concerning for residents watching the budget.
Sewer Staff Earn Certifications
City Manager Mark announced that Paul Johnson, Frank Grant, and Doug Goodwin have all completed their FOG certifications for grease trap management and maintenance — a required credential for the sewer department.
Vacuum Sewer Project: Materials Approved
The council briefly paused the meeting to review a skipped invoice before approving $640.70 for valve pit grommets for the vacuum sewer project. The purchase takes advantage of a tax-exempt bulk shipping window.
Azalea Drive Rezoning (Ordinance 2026-06)
The second reading passed to rezone 31 Azalea Drive — a roughly 0.74-acre parcel — from Medium Density Residential (R2) to Residential Commercial (RC). The rezoning clears the way for a future office complex on the property, which sits just south of Freeport Elementary School.
Other Business
- Planning Staff Travel: Approved to attend the state APA conference in Miami this October, using early bird registration pricing.
- Security Camera Disposal: The finance department gained approval to dispose of outdated security cameras and passed a budget amendment of $4,565.04 to account for assets that hadn’t fully depreciated.
- Bay View PDP Postponed: The Bay View Planned Development Project discussion was postponed to the June 9 meeting so the City Attorney could be present for the discussion.
