Zoning commission backs Black Mountain data‑center amendment despite heavy neighborhood opposition
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Summary
The Fort Worth Zoning Commission on April 8 recommended approval, 11–0, of a plan amendment to allow an electrical substation, taller buildings and data‑center parking ratios for Black Mountain’s campus after hours of public testimony citing pollution, water and grid concerns; approval included a required site plan and eight staff conditions and advances the matter to city council.
The Fort Worth Zoning Commission recommended approval on April 8 of an amendment to PD 14‑20 that would add an electrical substation, raise maximum building height to 70 feet and adopt data‑center parking ratios for a proposed Black Mountain data‑center campus. The motion passed 11–0 with an approval conditioned on a required site plan that addresses eight staff comments.
The request drew the meeting’s most sustained public opposition. Letita Wilburn, speaking for Echo Heights Stop Systems Environmental Coalition and the Fort Worth Environmental Coalition of Communities, said the project would put a large data center and an existing nearby landfill side‑by‑side and “enhance the pollution coming from the landfill,” arguing the city lacks policies and enforcement mechanisms for data centers. Jackson Weston, who works at Weston Gardens and grew up near the site, urged denial until operators answer community questions about environmental impacts. Angela Bridal, a long‑time mobile‑home‑park resident, asked what will happen to affordable homes near the site and asked the commission to deny the application.
Opponents raised concerns about air and water impacts, local health statistics and whether the regional electric grid and water system can support large data‑center loads. One resident asked for more time for community engagement and for the actual operators to appear and answer technical questions.
Applicant representatives said the submission is an amendment to an existing PD and that much of the operational oversight is regulated by other state and federal agencies. Bob Riley of Half Associates, representing the applicants, said the amendment and site plan seek to reduce building footprint by adding height and increasing setbacks, which would “result in more green space” on the campus. A technical advisor noted that operator designs are trending to closed‑loop cooling and that applicants have engaged electric providers and ERCOT in multi‑year studies. The applicant’s representative said the campus’ planned electrical infrastructure is intended to serve the data center only and that the project team will provide additional materials to staff and council addressing site‑plan comments.
Commissioners debated the limits of the zoning commission’s role — whether concerns about water, grid reliability and emissions fall within zoning or are the responsibility of utilities and state regulators — and repeatedly urged the applicant to continue community engagement. Commissioner Pierce noted that approving the site plan with the staff conditions would lock in protections and that the PD’s site‑plan review and permitting process would require authority‑level reviews on noise, water use and generator siting.
The record includes applicant commitments to provide a revised site plan addressing the staff’s eight listed comments ahead of city council action. The commission’s recommendation advances the amendment to the city council; council is scheduled to consider zoning recommendations on May 12 unless the item is continued. The commission’s formal recommendation was approval with the site plan that addresses staff comments.
