Keller Wins Protections in Westlake Data Center Settlement
Keller’s City Council unanimously approved settlement terms with Westlake and Circle T Owner LP for a proposed 1.1 million-square-foot data center near the Keller-Westlake border. The city manager finalized the agreement on November 5. Westlake’s Town Council still must review and approve it at an upcoming meeting; the settlement allows construction to proceed.
The agreement gives Keller contractual authority to enforce noise, screening and operational requirements outside its city limits. It calls for residential property-line noise limits, a baseline study and quarterly monitoring for the first three years of operations. A 10-foot landscaped berm must screen the site, with damaged or dead trees replaced.
Circle T will contribute $1.5 million for noise monitoring, environmental mitigation and city services, and $300,000 toward Keller Fire-Rescue training, equipment and response costs. The deal also requires Tier 4 emissions controls on diesel backup generators, limits generator tests to daytime, and includes a $76,000 payment for Keller’s legal and expert costs.
The dispute followed residents’ concerns about noise, environmental effects, the approval process and the project’s proximity to homes. Keller had sought an injunction to stop further development, but the court order was later dissolved. The Lakes at Marshall Ridge homeowners association said it had agreed to end its lawsuit.
The settlement comes after Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott in the November 3 election. Keller says it will take part in statewide discussions about data center regulation and the facilities’ demands on electricity and water resources.
Keller Secures Safeguards as Data Center Concerns Mount
A proposed data center near Keller homes will move forward, but the settlement finalized on November 5 gives Keller enforceable safeguards over noise, screening and operations. That is a consequential concession after residents raised concerns about health, environmental effects, property values and the project’s proximity to their neighborhood.
Keller’s City Council unanimously approved the deal with Westlake and Circle T Owner LP, and the city manager finalized it. Westlake’s Town Council still must consider the agreement. It does not stop construction, but it requires residential noise limits, a baseline study and quarterly monitoring for the first three years of operations. A 10-foot landscaped berm must screen the facility, and damaged trees must be replaced.
The company will contribute $1.5 million for noise monitoring, environmental mitigation and municipal services, plus $300,000 for Keller Fire-Rescue. Diesel backup generators must use Tier 4 emissions controls, and testing is limited to daytime hours. The deal also includes $76,000 for Keller’s legal and expert expenses.
Residents’ concerns prompted lawsuits and an earlier temporary court order, later dissolved, that blocked progress on the development agreement. The Lakes at Marshall Ridge homeowners association says it will end its suit. The settlement shows why local protections matter when major projects affect communities beyond the boundaries of the city approving them.
The agreement arrives amid growing debate about data centers’ electricity and water demands. Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott on November 3, and Keller says it will work with her on statewide regulation discussions. Westlake’s council must still approve the settlement.
Keller Deal Adds Guardrails Without Blocking Data Center
The Keller-Westlake data center dispute has produced a settlement that addresses local concerns without shutting down a major project. Finalized on November 5, the deal leaves construction possible while giving Keller contractual rights to enforce noise, screening and operational rules beyond its borders.
Keller’s City Council unanimously approved terms with Westlake and Circle T Owner LP. Westlake’s Town Council still must review them. The agreement requires limits on noise at residential property lines, a baseline study and quarterly monitoring during the first three years of operations. A 10-foot berm will screen the site, and damaged trees must be replaced.
Circle T will pay $1.5 million for noise monitoring, environmental mitigation and municipal programs, and $300,000 toward Keller Fire-Rescue costs. The settlement also requires Tier 4 controls for diesel backup generators, restricts testing to daytime and includes $76,000 for Keller’s legal and expert expenses. These terms impose clear responsibilities without preventing the facility from being built.
The project drew lawsuits after residents objected to its proximity to homes, possible noise and environmental effects, and the approval process. A temporary court order blocking progress on the development agreement was later dissolved. The homeowners association for Lakes at Marshall Ridge says it agreed to end its lawsuit.
Data centers have become a political flashpoint over energy and water use. Gov. Greg Abbott has backed steps to slow new development, and Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated him on November 3. The Keller settlement reflects a practical path: require operators to address local impacts while keeping development possible. Westlake’s council has yet to act on the agreement.
Reported by FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, CBS Texas.
