Keller City Council calls special meeting for comments on Westlake data center
The Keller City Council is holding a special meeting to allow residents to voice concerns about a proposed 1.1-million-square-foot data center in neighboring Westlake. Residents and the Keller City Council are concerned about the project's impact, despite the Westlake Town Council preparing to vote on a development agreement for the project, which is allowed by right.
The Keller City Council has scheduled a special meeting to address community concerns regarding a large data center proposed in Westlake, a town bordering Keller. Mayor Ross McMullin stated that Keller residents can express their "frustrations" about the project, which will be discussed in an executive session with legal counsel regarding Westlake's approval processes.
The proposed 1.1-million-square-foot data center complex, to be built on 87.9 acres along Denton Highway in Westlake, straddles Tarrant and Denton counties. Land records indicate the site is owned by an LP associated with Hillwood. Residents, including those from the Lakes at Marshall Ridge, have previously voiced strong opposition, asking the Westlake Planning and Zoning Commission to relocate the project rather than block it outright.
Separately, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive ordering the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to audit data centers before any further approvals. Former Keller Mayor Armin Mizani has requested that the Westlake data center undergo this audit. Additionally, Council member Shannon Dubberly raised concerns about the data center's potential water usage, urging statewide consideration for such projects. The Westlake Town Council is also holding a special meeting to vote on the development agreement for the data center, which is permitted "by right" on the vacant land, meaning the vote is on infrastructure and compliance rather than the project's existence.