The Highlands County Planning & Zoning Commission, acting as the Local Planning Agency, is scheduled to meet on Oct. 13, 2026, according to the agenda published through the county’s CivicClerk portal. The agenda lists a “Knowledge Quest” item on data centers, with a county attorney presentation addressing Senate Bill 180 and recent legislative changes.
According to the published agenda, the item begins with background information on data centers provided by a county staff member identified as Mrs. Culpepper, followed by remarks from the county attorney on how Senate Bill 180 and other recent legislation may affect local regulation of such facilities. The agenda does not include a formal resolution or ordinance tied to this item.
For residents, the discussion matters because data center development can intersect with local land-use planning, zoning authority, and how state law limits or shapes county regulatory options — topics the Planning & Zoning Commission oversees as part of its role advising on the county’s comprehensive plan and land development code.
- Meeting: Highlands County Planning & Zoning Commission / Local Planning Agency Regular Meeting
- Date: Oct. 13, 2026
- Agenda Item 7A: “Data Centers,” described in the agenda as a general information presentation
- Presenters: Mrs. Culpepper (general information) and the county attorney (legislative context, including Senate Bill 180)
- Source: CivicClerk meeting agenda, Highlands County, Fla.
Per the agenda, the data center discussion falls under an informational category rather than an action item requiring a vote. The published materials do not indicate any scheduled motion, resolution, or ordinance tied to this specific topic for the Oct. 13 meeting.
Residents can review the full agenda and attend the meeting in person; CivicClerk materials indicate the meeting is open to the public. Those wishing to comment on the data center discussion or other agenda items may do so during the public comment period, as provided for in the published meeting procedures.
Official source: the published record