City amends comprehensive plan, addresses data centers

Granbury, Texas The Granbury City Council recently approved significant amendments to the city’s zoning ordinances and comprehensive plan, allowing for industrial development on a 2,100-acre tract known as Knox Ranch. This decision, made on April 7, paves the way for potential data center and power generation facilities, including one referred to as "Project Patriot," and overrode a 6-1 denial by the Granbury Planning and Zoning Commission. The council's 6-1 vote to approve the changes, with Councilwoman Angela Parker dissenting, followed extensive community input where over 20 residents voiced strong opposition. Community members expressed doubts about the city's commitment to residents' best interests, citing concerns about water usage, air pollution, sound, light, and traffic from such developments, particularly given the property's proximity to homes, schools, and a hospital. Bilateral Energy has already secured a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Property to build and operate a power plant on the site. Cody Nolan, Granbury's director of development, stated that the changes were "something that would be needed moving forward" to add definitions for data centers and power generation to the city's land-use plan. Shea Hopkins, the city’s Economic Development director, emphasized that the amendments were not about a specific project but about proactively strengthening the city’s regulatory ability to address future data center and power generation developments and protect residents. Despite these assurances, many residents viewed the changes as "opening the door" for such facilities.