The Fort Worth Zoning Commission voted 7-4 on July 8 to recommend against adopting new zoning rules for data centers. The decision follows a lengthy discussion that extended past the normal closing time of City Hall. The proposed regulations were designed to establish development standards for the facilities while attempting to balance economic benefits with resident protections.
The commission rejected the proposal after members expressed concerns about the timeline and specific technical requirements. Commissioner Jacob Wurman noted that the group had spent four months deliberating on amendments to the Stockyards district, contrasting that duration with the rapid pace of the current vote. He stated that the commission felt pressured to make a decision too quickly.
The rejected plan included several specific mandates. It would have required a 250-foot buffer between data center structures and nearby residential property lines. Within that buffer, parking and driveways would have been permitted. The proposal also called for a 300-foot separation between homes and outdoor ground-mounted equipment, such as generators and cooling units. That equipment would need to be hidden behind a masonry wall at least 10 feet tall or one foot taller than the equipment itself.
Additional requirements included acoustic barriers for rooftop cooling units, limits on outdoor lighting height to 20 feet, and a mandate for a continuous row of evergreen trees around the development. The city was also reviewing changes to water use, noise, and economic development agreements related to these facilities.
During the meeting, more than 20 residents addressed the commission. Krista Erbe, a resident and member of a group opposing a west Fort Worth data center, argued that best practices in data center regulation are evolving rapidly. She and others called for a moratorium on new developments to allow for more thorough review. The commission allowed unlimited speaking time for the public, which delayed the vote significantly.
