NRH Mayor Opposes Data Centers Near Homes As AI Infrastructure Debate Grows
North Richland Hills Mayor Jack McCarty has publicly opposed data centers near residential areas, responding to community feedback on a proposed project by Provident. The City of North Richland Hills updated its zoning ordinances in 2025 to specifically address data centers and is reviewing rules for new AI infrastructure. A proposed 330,000-square-foot inference data center by Provident requires a zoning change, while another unnamed company is building a data center at an industrially zoned site.
North Richland Hills Mayor Jack McCarty has publicly stated his opposition to data centers near residential areas, a position he shared in a June 24 Facebook post following a community meeting regarding a proposed data center project.
Provident is exploring the redevelopment of the former Santander operations center at 5201 Rufe Snow Drive into a 330,000-square-foot, 50-megawatt inference data center. This project requires a zoning change and has not yet been scheduled for public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Commission or the City Council. The Mayor's stance comes as the city reviews its rules for projects tied to the artificial intelligence infrastructure boom, driven in part by the White House's 2025 AI Action Plan.
The City of North Richland Hills adopted its first specific regulations for data centers in 2025, distinguishing between general and small-scale facilities and requiring full enclosure of equipment or significant setbacks from residential properties. These updates were made to prevent data centers from being classified as general warehouses without specific oversight. Another unnamed company is currently building a 12,000-square-foot data center at 6401 Wuliger Way, which, due to its existing Industrial zoning, does not require a special use permit or public hearings.
The debate over data centers is growing across Texas, with concerns about energy and water consumption, as highlighted by environmental groups like American Rivers, and state-level directives from Gov. Greg Abbott. Texas Senate Bill 6, effective June 2025, requires data centers to pay fees and 100% of grid connection costs, and the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT have been directed to protect residential ratepayers from infrastructure costs.