Fort Worth weighs moratorium and new rules as data center projects spark neighborhood concerns
The Fort Worth City Council is weighing a 90-day moratorium on future data center projects due to neighborhood concerns. This comes after the zoning commission approved the Black Mountain Energy Project, which is facing opposition from a local garden owner concerned about environmental and business impacts. Councilman Chris Nettles supports the approved project, stating it will not be affected by the proposed moratorium.
Residents of South Fort Worth are expressing concerns over a proposed data center project, identified as the Black Mountain Energy Project, in the vicinity of Weston Gardens. Sue Weston, owner of the historic 100-year-old gardens, fears the data center's cooling systems and vibrations will impact the tranquility, harm wildlife, crack existing structures, and potentially lead to a loss of revenue from events like weddings.
The Fort Worth zoning commission previously approved the Black Mountain Energy Project. Fort Worth City Councilman Chris Nettles, whose district includes the project site, supports the development. He assured CBS News Texas that a 300-foot buffer will exist between the gardens and the data center and stated that the council's upcoming vote on a 90-day moratorium for *future* data center projects will not affect the Black Mountain Project's timeline or approval, which was unanimously voted on a year and a half ago.
Despite the councilman's assurances, Weston indicated she would continue her fight to protect her gardens and the surrounding community from the perceived negative impacts of the data center.