Residents in a Keller neighborhood bordering Westlake are voicing opposition to a proposed data center they say would be built just hundreds of feet from their homes, while Westlake officials contend the project has been discussed publicly for more than a year and was previously shared with Keller leadership.
The proposed Circle T Data Center would U.S. Highway 377 and Westport Parkway in Westlake. According to project plans, the campus would include about 3.83 million square feet of development, with approximately 1.1 million square feet of data center buildings.
Although the project is entirely within Westlake city limits, some Keller homes would be located about 506 feet from the nearest building, prompting concerns from nearby residents over noise, property values and environmental impacts.
Keller Residents Voice Concerns
Residents said they only recently became aware of the proposal and questioned how the project could affect nearby neighborhoods.
“You know, and of course, the big concern is how it’s going to negatively affect our property values, how much that’s going to drop them, and then too, you know, these things are known to have a lot of noise, how that will affect us, and then the other one is the environmental impact,” Myers said.
Another resident asked city leaders how much time remained to formally object before approvals move forward.
Because the development lies entirely within Westlake, Keller officials acknowledged they have no authority to stop the project.
McMullin said Keller’s role will be to advocate for residents by raising concerns about setbacks, noise and site placement during discussions with Westlake officials.
“Our top priority is advocating for our residents,” McMullin said, per Fox 4.
Westlake Says Keller Was Informed in 2024
Westlake officials dispute claims that the project came as a surprise.
In a statement released on Saturday, the town said representatives from Westlake, Keller and Hillwood Properties met in December 2024 to review preliminary plans for the development.
According to Westlake, attendees included former Keller Mayor Armin Mizani and current City Manager Aaron Rector. Officials said the meeting covered the proposed site’s location, facility size, anticipated noise levels, water usage, electrical infrastructure and other project details.
Westlake said it also committed at the time to exceeding required setbacks, complying with the town’s noise ordinance and incorporating extensive landscaping to buffer neighboring properties.
“Contrary to recent assertions that this project came as a surprise, the proposed data center was discussed openly and collaboratively more than a year ago,” the town said.
Westlake further stated that Keller leadership expressed support for the project following the meeting and indicated it would have minimal impact on Keller residents.
The town said the project was also discussed publicly during Planning and Zoning Commission meetings and a Town Council meeting in January 2025, all of which were publicly noticed, livestreamed and archived.
“No opposition was raised during those proceedings,” the statement said.
Westlake added that it cannot explain why Keller’s elected officials did not share information from the 2024 meeting with subsequent elected officials or Keller residents.
Former Keller Mayor Responds
Former Mayor Armin Mizani, who served until May 2026 and is now the Republican nominee for Texas House District 98, disputed suggestions that Keller played a role in approving the project.
In a Facebook post, Mizani said the approval process “begins and ends with the Town of Westlake under its own laws, processes, and standards.”
He added that he wanted to ensure Keller’s limited involvement was not misrepresented.
Westlake Highlights Economic Benefits
Westlake has launched an informational webpage outlining what it says are the project’s benefits and measures designed to reduce impacts on neighboring residents.
According to the town, the Virginia-based developer PowerHouse plans to construct a data center campus expected to generate approximately $5 million annually in tax revenue for the first decade and about $7 million per year thereafter. Officials estimate the project will increase Westlake’s annual revenue by about 14%.
The town said the facility will:
- Meet Westlake’s noise ordinance limiting sound levels to 56 decibels during the day and 49 decibels at night.
- Include a landscaped berm along U.S. Highway 377.
- Feature at least a 75-foot landscaped buffer along the southern property line.
- Plant approximately 500 additional trees as part of more than 4,000 trees and shrubs surrounding the site.
- Employ approximately 75 workers once operational while generating minimal daily traffic.
Westlake also said the project has been designed to minimize utility impacts.
Officials said the campus will operate without water roughly 85% of the year, using cooling water primarily during hotter months. The facility is projected to consume approximately 54 million gallons annually — an amount the town says is less than a typical Texas golf course — and will include water recycling systems intended to reduce peak demand.
The town also stated that the developer has funded construction of a new 350-megawatt Oncor electrical substation that officials say will improve infrastructure without increasing residents’ electric bills.
Officials Plan Further Discussions
Mayor Kim Greaves said Westlake remains committed to maintaining its longstanding relationship with Keller.
“The Town of Westlake values its long-standing partnership with the City of Keller,” Greaves said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “We appreciate that partnership and remain committed to maintaining a positive and collaborative relationship moving forward.”
Westlake and Keller leaders are expected to meet before moving ahead with additional stages of the project.
Meanwhile, Keller has encouraged residents to attend Tuesday’s Westlake Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m. at Westlake Town Hall, where commissioners are expected to consider the site’s development plans.
Provided by Dallas Express
