DeSoto County’s planning commission spent hours questioning a developer and county staff about a proposed data center, and in the end voted to recommend denying a rezoning request for the 3-F Ranch property. The sticking point: no clear answers on water usage, sound, or site design. The applicant, DeSoto County Industrial Park Group, said that kind of detail typically comes later in the process, but commissioners weren’t comfortable moving forward without it. A decision on the Swisher property is still pending.
The recommendation now heads to county commissioners, who could consider a potential 1,300-acre data center project. That’s a lot of land and a lot of questions, especially in a county where water resources and rural character carry real weight. One commissioner said there was no point trying to build conditions or compromises for a project that clearly isn’t ready.
Residents at the meeting raised another layer of concern. One pointed out that local kids finish high school and leave because there’s nothing here for them. Supporters of projects like this often pitch jobs and opportunity. Opponents worry about resources and long-term impact. Both sides deserve a real hearing, and that starts with real answers. What questions would you want answered before a project like this moves forward?
