Keller City Council opposes data center in neighboring city, asks for pause
The Keller City Council has formally expressed its opposition to a data center development in neighboring Westlake, voting unanimously to send a resolution asking Westlake to pause the development process. Although Westlake has already approved the project, Keller residents and council members are frustrated by the lack of consideration for regional impacts, including concerns about power, water use, and noise.
The Keller City Council held a special meeting to address a data center proposal in neighboring Westlake, which would be built on 88 acres near Highway 377, just hundreds of feet from homes in Keller. After two hours of public comment and executive sessions, the Keller City Council voted unanimously to oppose the data center.
Despite Keller's opposition, the development has already been approved by Westlake. However, Keller's resolution asks Westlake to table approval of the agreement and site plan for 30 days. It also requests specific information and protections regarding energy usage and landscaping, as well as better communication from Westlake regarding the regional impacts of the project. Westlake officials maintain that power, water use, and noise considerations were taken into account during their approval process.
Residents and city council members from Keller expressed significant frustration, with some feeling "blindsided" by Westlake's actions. The intensity of the opposition has led to police involvement; Keller Police reported that a person threatened violence online against Westlake Town Council members over the data center project, leading to an ongoing investigation into felony-level allegations. Westlake is scheduled to hold another special city council meeting to vote on the development agreement, though city officials have stated this vote is primarily about land use requirements and proper installation, not a re-evaluation of the data center's approval.