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Applicants withdraw Airport Drive rezoning for proposed data center; council approves consent agenda

Wichita Falls City Council · February 17, 2026

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Summary

An applicant withdrew a rezoning request for a planned data center on Airport Drive and plans to resubmit a narrower request; council approved the consent agenda, including an appropriation for STD/HIV prevention services and several resolutions, by voice vote.

A speaker identified only as Paul told the Wichita Falls City Council on Feb. 17 that applicants withdrew item 10a, a rezoning request for a planned data center on Airport Drive, and plan to return within a month with a narrower request limited to a data center ("No Bitcoin mining," he said). He said the revised application would likely go through Planning & Zoning in March or April before returning to the council.

Residents and developers weighed in during public comment. Jack Brown, a Planning & Zoning commissioner, urged the city to pursue data‑center investment citing local power, gas and water infrastructure and potential tax revenue. Valerie Rhodes said she was not opposed to a data warehouse but asked the council to require mitigation—sound barriers, lighting limits and performance standards—for neighborhoods near industrial zoning. Developer Mark Calvano urged a zoning overlay to allow solar deployments and described closed‑loop cooling and other innovations that reduce water use.

On the consent agenda the council approved several items by a single motion and voice vote. Notable items listed on the agenda: - Item 8a: an ordinance appropriating $104,628 to the Special Revenue Fund for STD/HIV prevention services from the Texas Department of State Health Services for calendar year 2026. - Item 9a–9e: agenda resolutions authorizing procurement and appointments, including a contract to upgrade council chambers audio/visual equipment (Digital Resources Inc.), purchase of three BMW motorcycles for public safety, reappointment to the Firefighters and Police Officers Civil Service Commission, award of the 2026 crack seal project to Holbrook Asphalt LLC, and continued participation with the Encore steering committee. (The consent agenda was approved by voice vote; the transcript does not record individual roll‑call tallies.)

What happens next: The withdrawn rezoning (Airport Drive) may be resubmitted with a narrower scope; city staff indicated interested residents and applicants should monitor Planning & Zoning schedules for March/April filings.