Zoning commissioners deny data center rules, return ordinance to Fort Worth City Council
Fort Worth zoning commissioners denied a proposed data center zoning ordinance, citing a need for more details and stricter regulations, particularly regarding setbacks and operational zones. The ordinance, which aims to prohibit cryptocurrency mining and mandate specific development standards, will now proceed to the City Council for a final vote in August, despite the commissioners' denial.
Fort Worth's zoning commissioners recently voted 7-4 to deny a proposed zoning and development ordinance concerning data centers, sending it back to the City Council for further review. Commissioners expressed the need for more stringent regulations, greater detail, and additional time to consider the ordinance, which is the first of its kind for the city. Recommended changes included increasing setback distances from residential properties and clarifying which industrial zones data centers would be permitted to operate within.
The proposed regulations, initially presented to council members by Assistant City Manager Jesica McEachern, aim to prohibit cryptocurrency mining as a primary use for data centers and mandate specific standards for lighting, landscaping, and the distance between facilities and homes. Current proposals suggest a minimum 250-foot setback from homes, a significant increase from the existing 20-foot industrial development standard. Additionally, the ordinance addresses noise concerns by requiring standby generators to be located at least 300 feet from homes and rooftop cooling equipment to be shielded by acoustic barriers.
The city's efforts to craft these policies stem from a "boom in interest" in data center development and growing opposition from residents, particularly in south Fort Worth, who cite concerns about noise, energy, and water consumption. Advocacy groups like Tarrant4Change and 817 Gather have urged commissioners to restrict data centers to heavy industrial zones and consider a moratorium on new developments, arguing that data centers should be classified as heavy industrial due to their impacts.
Despite the commissioners' denial, the Fort Worth City Council is scheduled to revisit the proposed zoning regulations at a meeting on August 4, incorporating public feedback and potential amendments. A final vote on all data center proposals is slated for August 11. City officials, including McEachern, emphasized the importance of enhancing current rules to ensure good development practices that protect both developers and the community, noting that the industry itself is also trying to design sites to be "good neighbors."