Fort Worth City Council approves $10 billion data center site plan with added green space and increased distance from homes
The Fort Worth City Council approved an amended site plan for a $10 billion data center project by Black Mountain, despite resident criticism. The revised plan includes increased green space and a 300-foot buffer between the facility and nearby homes.
The Fort Worth City Council voted 7-4 to approve an amended site plan for a $10 billion data center project by Black Mountain. This decision came after months of criticism and backlash from southeast Fort Worth residents regarding the development's proximity to homes.
Council members Michael Crain and Chris Nettles requested and secured an amendment to the zoning language, increasing the required distance between the data center and residential properties from 150 feet to 300 feet. The plan for the 187-acre project also includes an electrical substation, a maximum building height of 70 feet, and incorporates green space and trees to separate the four-building campus from homes.
During the council meeting, some residents expressed support for the revised plan, citing potential job opportunities and tax revenue for local schools. However, others urged a delay in the vote, advocating for the city's newly formed data center and infrastructure commission to first craft and provide its recommended regulations before a final decision was made on the site plan.