Prosper city leaders vote against data center proposal | NBCDFW
Prosper's Planning and Zoning Commission has voted 7-0 to recommend the denial of a proposed data center by White Rose Partners in Denton County, Texas. The proposal sparked significant resident and community opposition over concerns including sound and light pollution, water usage, and environmental impacts. The final decision now rests with the Prosper Town Council, which is expected to vote next week.
The Planning and Zoning Commission for the town of Prosper, Texas, voted 7 to 0 to recommend the denial of a new data center proposed by White Rose Partners. The proposed facility was planned for a 37-acre tract of land off FM 1385 in Denton County, and its future is now uncertain as the decision moves to the full Town Council.
Residents from Prosper and neighboring communities voiced strong opposition, sending over 400 emails and speaking out at the meeting. Concerns primarily focused on sound and light pollution, water usage, utility strain, environmental impacts, and changes to neighborhood character. One resident highlighted that the impacts of the decision extend beyond municipal boundaries, affecting people based on proximity, not city lines.
Developers, however, stated that the building would utilize a closed-loop cooling system to conserve water and be designed to minimize noise. They also pledged that the owners would fund upgrades to a power substation and claimed the project would create jobs and foster community growth in the long term.
The proposal is scheduled for a vote before the Prosper Town Council next week, on September 8th, pending the developer's decision to proceed.