Council approves zoning for data‑center campus near Weston Gardens after months of outreach and heated public opposition

Fort Worth City Council voted to approve a series of zoning changes that allow expansion of a data‑center campus in southeast Fort Worth, including zoning case ZC25‑131, after public testimony that included concerns about noise, water use, lighting, and threats to nearby Weston Gardens.

The application for ZC25‑131 covers about 119.06 acres and mirrors the conditions approved on a related PD (planned development) the council approved in June. Developer representatives said the project is part of a contiguous campus that would bring new fiber and power infrastructure, “thousands of jobs” during construction and hundreds of long‑term high‑skill positions.

Opposition and core concerns: Dozens of residents, Weston Gardens staff and environmental advocates urged the council to deny the rezoning or impose stronger conditions. Jackson Weston, whose family operates Weston Gardens, said the nursery and historic demonstration gardens host weddings, community events and educational programming and are “a special place” that would be harmed by noise, lights and the heat a data center can generate. Weston Gardens staff noted they had collected more than 1,200 petition signatures opposing the rezoning.

Multiple speakers cited environmental and…