Westlake Planning & Zoning Commission approves data center site plan near Keller
The Westlake Planning & Zoning Commission approved a site plan for the Circle T Ranch data center near the Keller-Westlake border, despite significant public opposition from Keller residents. The project, requiring substantial electricity and water, now moves to the Westlake Town Council for a final vote on August 18. Concerns about transparency and environmental impact were raised by former officials and residents.
The Westlake Planning & Zoning Commission approved a site plan for the Circle T Ranch data center on August 4, located near the Keller-Westlake border. This approval came after more than two hours of public comments from a capacity crowd, predominantly residents from the neighboring city of Keller who voiced opposition to the project.
The proposed development, a four-building complex spanning 90 acres, is being spearheaded by American Real Estate Partners and PowerHouse Data Centers. Jeff Parsons, senior vice president for the developers, presented the plan, emphasizing high architectural and aesthetic standards in consideration of surrounding neighbors. The data center is projected to consume 300 megawatts of electricity from an Oncor switchyard with a 350-megawatt capacity, and its cooling operations will demand an average of 165,000 gallons of water daily, totaling 54 million gallons annually.
Following the commission's approval, the Westlake Town Council is scheduled to hold a final vote on the development agreement on August 18. Keller Mayor Ross McMullin expressed his city's full support for Marshall Ridge residents affected by the project, vowing to review processes and procedures related to Westlake’s actions. Former Westlake Planning & Zoning commissioner Linda Bjorn criticized the town's transparency regarding the data center and claimed her removal from the commission by Westlake Mayor Kim Greaves was due to her vision not aligning with the town's business plan after she questioned the project's water and electrical usage. Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Terry Wilkinson requested additional berms for noise mitigation after observing sound levels at nearby Meta data centers in Fort Worth.