Fort Worth City Council Approves Data Center Zoning Amidst Garden Owner Opposition

Data Center Rezoning Approval

• 📌 The Fort Worth City Council has voted to approve rezoning for a large data center campus, despite significant opposition.
• 🎯 The decision impacts nearly 500 acres near Forest Hill and Lawn Stevenson Road.

Concerns from Historic Garden Owner

• 🌷 Sue Weston, owner of a historic garden established over three decades ago, fears the data center's proximity will negatively impact her business.
• ⚠️ Specific concerns include potential noise, increased traffic, and the overall survival of the garden, which relies on events and its unique environment.
• 💬 Weston expressed a desire to preserve the gardens and avoid selling her property, emphasizing its value as a "unicorn" and demonstration garden.

Developer's Perspective and Future Plans

• 🏢 Bob Riley of Black Mountain Power is pitching the project as a long-term capital investment exceeding $10 billion.
• 💻 Riley described the facilities as buildings housing computers, and believes the data center and Weston Gardens can coexist.
• ⏳ The approval is the first step; the company must still complete traffic and water studies, with groundbreaking potentially up to a year away.
• 🤝 Riley stated the data center will be sufficiently distanced from Weston Gardens to preserve its historic value.