Judge Halts Westlake Data Center Vote Amid Resident Opposition
A Tarrant County judge issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the City of Westlake from voting on a proposed data center project. The project faces strong opposition from residents in Westlake and neighboring Keller due to concerns about its proximity to homes and the perceived lack of public involvement. A town council meeting discussing the project continued despite the halt on the vote.
The City of Westlake, Texas, is facing a legal hurdle in its plans for a new data center project after a Tarrant County judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), preventing the city council from voting on the development. The proposed site, located off Highway 377 near the border with Keller, has ignited significant backlash from residents in both communities.
Reporter Brittany Costello indicated that the judge's intervention mandates Westlake to delay any action on the project, though a scheduled meeting on the matter proceeded. Residents expressed feeling "blindsided" by the project, questioning why they were not included in discussions that Westlake officials claim have been ongoing for over a year. Concerns primarily revolve around the data center's close proximity to residential areas, with some homes reportedly just hundreds of feet away.
Over 30 individuals, including a Keller City Council member, were registered to speak at the meeting, vowing to oppose the project. While Westlake maintains the land is zoned industrial and the project aligns with community development plans, the TRO has cast uncertainty over a planned agreement between the town and the data center developer regarding screening and landscaping requirements. The City of Keller has publicly stated its support for its residents in their opposition.