Westlake Mayor defends data center but admits it’s a “tough situation”
The cities of Keller and Westlake, Texas, are in a legal dispute over a proposed data center in Westlake, near the border with Keller. Keller's city council has authorized legal action to stop the project, citing concerns about Westlake's approval process and the data center's proximity to homes. Westlake's mayor defends the town's right to economic development but acknowledges the difficult situation.
Two affluent Texas cities, Keller and Westlake, are on the verge of a legal battle concerning a proposed data center. The data center, located within Westlake's borders, is positioned approximately 500 feet from homes in Keller and 3,000 feet from homes in Westlake.
Keller's City Council has officially approved pursuing all necessary legal avenues to halt the data center's construction. Keller's mayor expressed serious concerns regarding Westlake's process and procedures for the proposed data center, questioning whether the "spirit and letter of applicable law have been followed." He stated that a judge or jury would ultimately decide the merits of their legal claims.
In an exclusive interview following a contentious meeting in Westlake, the Mayor of Westlake defended his town's economic development rights. He suggested that Keller bears some responsibility for allowing homes to be built in an area previously zoned for commercial and industrial use, which is now adjacent to the proposed data center site. The mayor acknowledged the residents' frustration about being "not a good neighbor" but asserted Westlake's right to economic development within its own borders.