Millhouse Road Debate and Data Center Pause
The Orange County Board of Commissioners weighs whether to sell Millhouse Road parkland for a nonprofit sports complex or reserve part for affordable housing, ultimately advancing a revised sale solicitation focused on recreation. Later, the board raises environmental and equity concerns about large data centers and unanimously schedules a hearing on a one‑year moratorium and new regulations. 22mins
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In This Video
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Director Stancil presented a proposal for soliciting offers to purchase 45 acres of county-owned land on Millhouse Road for a nonprofit-owned multi-sport field complex with public use, noting existing easements and the natural resource areas to be preserved.
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Dolores Bailey, executive director of Empowerment Incorporated, urged commissioners to reserve about 10 acres of the Millhouse Road property for manufactured and other affordable homeownership opportunities, outlining possible unit counts and development costs as a response to the county’s housing shortage.
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A representative from Rainbow Soccer described past public‑private field partnerships, cautioned that restrictions would keep the Millhouse Road land’s appraised value low, and urged commissioners either to pursue a public‑private model or to ensure any sale preserved affordable, publicly aligned field rental rates for local groups.
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Chair Hamilton led an informal show-of-hands poll on whether to reserve a portion of the Millhouse Road property for housing, with three commissioners favoring some housing use and a majority preferring to keep the land primarily for recreation.
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Chair Hamilton refocused the discussion on whether to proceed with a solicitation to sell the Millhouse Road property for nonprofit-developed athletic fields, with commissioners endorsing a recommended price and directing staff to revise the solicitation document based on their feedback and bring it back for further consideration.
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Director Stober outlined documented concerns about data centers—including heavy power and water consumption, environmental justice impacts, questions over who bears utility costs, and persistent noise issues—drawing on national studies and regional research.
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Commissioner Carter voiced support for the proposal, linked it to a consent agenda item urging the state utilities commission to shield ratepayers from bearing infrastructure costs for large economic development projects, and acknowledged related equity and noise concerns.
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The Board unanimously approved a motion directing staff to prepare for an April 21, 2026 legislative public hearing on a one‑year moratorium on large‑scale data centers and to draft UDO amendments defining and regulating such facilities, including AI data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations.
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