The Fort Worth City Council unanimously approved a zoning amendment Tuesday, paving the way for Black Mountain Power LLC to build a large-scale data center on 119 acres near Weston Gardens.
CEO Rhett Bennett described the project as an economic win for Fort Worth, telling officials it would generate millions in local tax revenue and create new jobs, according to the Fort Worth Report.
While both Republican and Democratic council members supported the zoning change, several residents voiced strong opposition during public comment.
“There will always be another opportunity for a data center in this day and time but never another place like Weston Gardens,” said Jackson Weston, president of the historic garden center adjacent to the proposed site.
Resident Jessica Gonzalez echoed those concerns, saying the development threatens cherished community space. “Development and innovation are all inevitable … but at the same time, I think it is vitally important to protect the green spaces that we’ve got,” she said. “I’m very, very concerned about the adverse effect that it could have on Weston Gardens and the surrounding areas that mean so much to me and to other Fort Worthians.”
Some council members also voiced concerns before casting their votes.
“I’m genuinely concerned about the number of data centers establishing themselves in the city of Fort Worth,” Councilwoman Jeanette Martinez said, noting the strain such facilities place on local infrastructure. “Data centers require a significant amount of energy and water to operate.”
Councilmember Chris Nettles raised similar concerns. “It is incumbent on the City of Fort Worth to make sure that, number one, we take care of the water and, number two, that we’re good neighbors,” he said.
Nettles defended the decision, saying protective measures are in place to shield nearby properties. “I’m very confident the buffer will be enough to protect Weston Gardens and the surrounding area,” he said.
The project is among several new data center developments proposed across North Texas as the region emerges as a growing hub for cloud and AI infrastructure.