Westlake Planning and Zoning approves data center site; Keller residents voice opposition

The Town of Westlake’s planning and zoning commission unanimously approved an 87.9-acre site plan for a 1.1 million-square-foot data center complex near the Keller border on August 4. The decision was made despite significant opposition from Keller residents, who packed the Council Chamber expressing concerns about the data center's proximity to schools and neighborhoods, potential noise, health impacts, and property value loss. The commission included provisions for sound barriers and visual screening as part of the approval.

Residents, including former Keller Mayor Mark Mathews and Marshall Ridge residents Josh Rabe and Ben Buckwalter, accused Westlake of a lack of transparency and called for the project to be moved or tabled for further research. A nun from a nearby Buddhist monastery also voiced concerns about the disruption to serenity, citing potential religious liberty issues. The Marshall Ridge community has since hired an attorney and initiated a GoFundMe to cover legal fees, preparing for further opposition. Keller school board candidate Barbara Brewer organized a petition against the project.

The developer, Virginia-based Powerhouse, committed to "enhancements" exceeding current ordinances and stated their plans already comply with requirements for power and water use, community impact, and infrastructure costs. This comes as Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive on August 3, ordering the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to audit data centers for their power and water usage, financial plans, and community impacts before any more approvals. Residents like Julie Waters, who runs the Texans United Against Data Centers Facebook group, are calling for a special legislative session to address the issue.