Judge delays decision on controversial Westlake data center proposal
A Tarrant County judge has delayed a decision on a proposed data center in Westlake, Texas, setting a new hearing for October 23 after additional court documents were filed. This comes as a homeowners' association and the City of Keller have filed a lawsuit against Westlake, alleging zoning violations and a lack of transparency regarding the project's true purpose. The project is also being considered in light of data center development directives from Governor Abbott.
A Tarrant County judge, Kimberly Fitzpatrick, has postponed a ruling on a contentious data center proposal in Westlake, Texas, scheduling a new hearing for October 23. This delay follows the submission of hundreds of pages of new documents by attorneys and the dissolution of a temporary restraining order.
The Lakes of Marshall Ridge Homeowners Association and the City of Keller initiated legal action against the Town of Westlake. Their lawsuit contends that Westlake contravened its own zoning ordinances and attempted to obscure the data center's actual use. Specific allegations include the omission of a mandatory 150-foot setback and landscaped buffer in the site plan, as well as the consideration of a zoning text amendment in December 2024 to increase building height from 45 to 80 feet, with the agenda notably omitting any mention of a "data center.
Jon Sasser, a spokesman for Westlake, expressed confidence that the dispute would be resolved at the upcoming hearing, noting the town's adherence to Governor Abbott's directives on data center development. Conversely, Kevin Myers, representing the homeowners' association, indicated that Governor Abbott's restrictions on data centers would temporarily impede the Westlake project, emphasizing the need for clearer guidelines on how these directives should prevent impact on neighborhoods and the "Texas way of life."