Fort Worth zoning committee votes against data center restrictions

The Fort Worth Zoning Commission has voted against implementing new restrictions on data centers following a lengthy meeting where residents voiced concerns. Despite hours of testimony from the public, commission members stated they required more information before imposing regulations on the complex and evolving industry.

The proposed restrictions included mandates such as minimum distances between data centers and residential areas. Currently, the City of Fort Worth lacks any specific regulations governing the construction of data centers within its limits. The city reports that complaints regarding data centers have been minimal over the past five years, though residents expressed worries about potential impacts on quality of life, citing noise and light pollution. One resident representing the Fort Worth Environmental Coalition of Communities urged the commission to classify data centers as heavy industrial facilities, while another expressed concern over the speed of project approvals. Several residents argued that a proposed 250-foot building setback was inadequate, pointing to other jurisdictions that have adopted much larger setbacks.

Ultimately, the Zoning Commission voted seven to four against the proposed restrictions. However, this is not the final decision, as the Fort Worth City Council is expected to have the ultimate authority. The council is scheduled to discuss proposed amendments during a work session on August 4th and will vote on a final proposal on August 11th.