(This story was updated to include new information.)
Controversy surrounding a development in Indiantown, which would allow construction of data centers, has reached a boiling point.
Greater Indiantown Community Alliance, a nonprofit group comprising nearby property owners, filed a lawsuit May 25 in Martin County Civil Court against the village of Indiantown and Florida Power & Light Co. in response to the Village Council’s April 30 unanimous and controversial approval of Tesoro Groves.
The lawsuit is asking a circuit court judge to invalidate that approval.
The planned unit development category allows the 5,722-acre Tesoro Groves to build data centers and other light-industrial projects. Owned by FPL, the property was annexed into the village from unincorporated Martin County.
The lawsuit makes no references to data centers, yet community concerns about data centers have been a focal point in the controversy surrounding Tesoro Groves.
Tesoro Groves “threatens to completely destroy” the village’s rural character, according to the complaint, which alleges the annexation “constitutes illegal spot zoning and creates an illegal land enclave.”
Development would lead to “increased traffic on Kanner Highway, noise and light pollution from 24/7 industrial operations, permanent degradation of the rural character of the area and potential negative impacts on property values,” the complaint said.
This is the first time Indiantown, which was incorporated in 2017, has been a defendant in a civil suit, according to Martin County Clerk of Court records.
Indiantown Village Manager Taryn Kryzda declined to comment, citing pending litigation. FPL officials also declined to comment.
FPL representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
FPL has yet to acknowledge publicly how it plans to have the land developed, except for promising to build no homes there, according to its agreement with the village.
Plaintiffs — the Greater Indiantown Community Alliance and four Martin County residents — are represented by Stuart attorney Carlos Cabral.
“They asked the firm to bring this case because they believe the proper process was not followed and the public welfare was not analyzed,” attorney Travis Walker said in a statement.
“This is a Florida law case about whether the right process was followed, not a referendum on data centers,” Walker said.
“Numerous other residents” in the village have expressed support for overriding the annexation, the complaint said, “demonstrating widespread harm.”
Jack Randall is TCPalm’s economy and real estate reporter. You can reach him at jack.randall@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida residents sue Florida Power & Light over Indiantown project
Reporting by Jack Randall, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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