The Westlake Planning and Zoning Commission voted Tuesday night to approve plans for an 87-acre data center campus after nearly four hours of public testimony, sending the proposal to the Westlake Town Council for further consideration.
The proposed Circle T Data Center Campus, planned along U.S. Highway 377 near the Keller city limits, drew strong opposition from residents in both Westlake and Keller, who raised concerns about noise, water use, traffic, property values, environmental impacts and the project’s proximity to nearby neighborhoods.
Although commissioners approved the site plan, they added several conditions intended to reduce the project’s impact on surrounding homes.
Residents Voice Concerns Over Data Center Location
The meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd, with dozens of residents urging commissioners to reject or delay the project.
Many speakers said they were not opposed to development but questioned placing a large-scale data center next to established neighborhoods.
“I’m not against growth. Okay. I’m against putting a massive data center project right next to families when there is a better option,” Keller resident Ben Buckwalter said during public comments, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
Another resident challenged commissioners directly, according to Fox 4.
“Would you want to live in conditions like this? I don’t think so. Why do you want that for us? Move it.”
Several residents also questioned the notification process, saying they only became aware of the proposal after it had already advanced through much of the planning process.
“If this project is so good for everyone, why did we only learn about it after it had already moved so far through the process?” Buckwalter said.
Developer Says Design Will Minimize Neighborhood Impact
The proposed development is being led by PowerHouse Data Centers, which plans to construct a four-building campus totaling more than 1 million square feet.
Developer representative Jeff Parsons told commissioners the site was intentionally designed to lessen its impact on nearby neighborhoods.
“Some of the thoughtfulness that we put into this was to really set the campus as far back away as we could from the southern communities,” Parsons said, prompting laughter from audience members, per Fox 4.
Parsons said the project includes landscaped buffers, extensive tree screening and ongoing efforts to reduce operational noise.
According to project representatives, the campus is expected to use approximately 54 million gallons of water annually, or about 13.5 million gallons per building. Average daily consumption is projected at roughly 165,000 gallons — well below the site’s maximum permitted allocation of 1.5 million gallons per day.
Developers also said the facility will receive power from Oncor and comply with state requirements governing large data centers.
Buddhist Monastery Raises Religious Freedom Concerns
Opposition to the project also came from a nearby Buddhist monastery.
Meshi Sarah Hudson said construction and operation of the data center could interfere with the monastery’s religious practices.
“We hope this matter can be resolved through cooperation, thoughtful planning, and respect for everyone affected. However, if our religious freedom is substantially burdened despite precautions, we are prepared to seek the protections available under state and federal law,” Hudson said.
Commission Adds Conditions Before Approving Site Plan
Before approving the proposal, commissioners required the developer to incorporate additional measures intended to address residents’ concerns.
Those conditions include:
- Installing sound barrier walls around HVAC cooling towers, generators and other mechanical equipment.
- Providing immediate and continuous visual screening through additional trees surrounding the campus.
- Adding enhanced cooling devices as part of the development.
Despite those conditions, emotions remained high following the vote, with several audience members shouting “shame” as they exited the meeting.
Proposal Heads to Westlake Town Council
Tuesday’s vote does not grant final approval for the project.
The proposal now advances to the Westlake Town Council, which will negotiate a development agreement with the developer before deciding whether to approve the project.
The proposed data center has become a source of disagreement between neighboring communities. Keller officials have previously said they were caught off guard by the proposal, while Westlake officials maintain they discussed the project with Keller more than a year ago, The Dallas Express reported.
Westlake leaders have also said the development could increase the town’s tax revenue by approximately 14% while operating within local standards for noise and water use.
The proposal also comes as Gov. Greg Abbott has called for audits of large data center projects seeking to connect to the Texas power grid before construction proceeds.
