Judge temporarily blocks data center in Westlake, planned data center in Prosper in spotlight
A judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking a proposed data center in Westlake, Texas, following resident opposition. Meanwhile, Denton County and City officials are discussing data center regulations, with Denton City Council considering a moratorium, and Prosper's Planning and Zoning Commission tabled review of a data center project by White Rose Partners.
A temporary restraining order was issued last night by a judge against a proposed data center in Westlake, Texas, halting any votes on the project for now. This legal action follows weeks of significant pushback from residents in Westlake and nearby Keller, who voiced concerns about the data center's proximity to homes, with one resident criticizing a "3600 ft buffer" claim as obscene.
Simultaneously, discussions around data center development are intensifying across North Texas. In Denton County, commissioners held a meeting where the primary agenda item was data centers. Frisco councilman Bert Thacour presented, describing data centers as "fancy air conditioners" that could bring substantial tax revenue for schools and city programs, along with job security. Denton County commissioners expressed a desire to make informed decisions but noted their limited power over data center placement.
Later the same day, the Denton City Council was scheduled to meet to discuss data centers and is considering implementing a moratorium, a temporary pause on development, to establish stricter guidelines. Separately, a data center project planned near FM 1385 in Parvin Road on the Denton County side of Prosper is under scrutiny. Dallas Business Journal partners report that White Rose Partners intends to invest half a billion dollars in this center, potentially creating 50 jobs. Prosper's Planning and Zoning Commission removed this project from its agenda to allow more time for review, with the proposed site near an existing substation and homes over a quarter-mile away.