Overview
- A city-appointed Data Center & Infrastructure Commission presented 19 recommendations on Nov. 10 that city leaders say could trigger a temporary moratorium while zoning and development codes are rewritten.
- The panel urged technical limits to protect local resources, including requiring closed-loop cooling systems to curb freshwater withdrawals and other measures to reduce power and water strain.
- The commission recommended stronger land-use protections such as expanding residential setbacks from about 50 feet to roughly 350 feet and stepped-up enforcement of noise limits to shield nearby homes and historic sites.
- City staff scheduled the next public hearing for Jan. 12, 2027, and officials say the earliest a moratorium could take effect is February 2027, with projects already in the application pipeline likely to be exempt.
- Fort Worth now hosts four operating data centers, with one under construction and several proposed, and the recommendations respond to resident concerns about neighborhood character, environmental impacts, and the need for clearer rules for developers.