Granbury leaders, residents spar over data center concept
Granbury residents are strongly opposing a proposed data center, leading to a recall petition against the mayor and city council members who annexed land for the project. Concerns include noise, water, and energy use. A tense city council meeting saw residents walk out, and a court battle is anticipated regarding the recall effort.
The debate over data centers is escalating in Granbury, Texas, a city of 13,000 in Hood County. Residents are actively opposing a proposed data center concept, known as "Project Patriot," on 2200 acres of land near Meadowwood Road that the city council annexed earlier this year. Concerns raised by residents include potential noise pollution, as well as significant water and energy usage by the facility.
This opposition has manifested in a recall petition targeting Granbury's Mayor Jim Jarrett and most city council members, with petitioners alleging a lack of transparency regarding the data center before the land annexation. Over 1300 registered voters signed the petition, meeting the required 15% threshold for a recall election.
During a recent tense city council meeting, dozens of residents walked out after Mayor Jarrett and council member Skip Overdyer defended themselves against the recall efforts, with Mayor Jarrett citing procedural issues with the petition. Petitioners hope to have the recall placed on the November ballot, though it may be delayed until May, and a legal challenge is expected. The city confirms it has received a concept plan and renderings for Project Patriot but emphasizes that no official development plans have been submitted and any future plans would undergo standard review to meet zoning and development standards.