RED OAK – A proposed 800+ acre data center development in Red Oak is expected to move forward to the City Council for consideration on May 11 at 7 p.m at City Hall, 101 S. Live Oak St.
At a recent Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, which lasted nearly four hours, the commission voted 3-2 to recommend denial of the rezoning request.
The meeting drew a large turnout of residents, with an overwhelming majority expressing concerns about the project.
Key points driving community interest include:
• The scale of the development (800+ acres) and its long-term impact on the area
• Questions around infrastructure demand, including power and traffic
• A reported 10-year tax abatement, raising questions about timing of community benefit
• Limited expected local employment relative to project size
• Broader concerns about preserving the character and growth trajectory of Red Oak and surrounding areas
While some city leadership has expressed support based on potential tax revenue and economic development, many residents are asking whether the long-term benefits align with the scale of the project and its impact on the community.
This appears to be shaping into a meaningful local issue involving:
• Growth vs. community identity
• Economic incentives vs. long-term planning
• City vs. county impact (as many affected residents live just outside city limits, myself included)
DataBank secured a $2-billion construction loan for its massive data center campus south of Red Oak and will fund the first three of eight planned data centers at its 300-acre Red Oak campus on Stainback Road.
The facilities, called DFW 9, DFW 10 and DFW11, have already been leased.
They total 600,000 square feet and 180 megawatts of power.
Reports stated representatives for the data center firm indicated in state filings that interior work on two of the buildings was to start soon.
The firm plans to fill out both two-story buildings with data rack containment, tenant storage and office space, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings.
Texas in general, and DFW in particular, are ground zero for explosive data center growth driven by the global buildout of artificial intelligence technology.
According to JLL data, data center construction in the Lone Star State is entering “hyperdrive” and is projected to overtake Virginia as the world’s largest hub for data centers by 2030.
DataBank is expected to spend $301 million on the DFW 10 interior. The project was registered with state officials in mid March. The estimated completion date isJanuary 2027.
The firm will spend an estimated $315 million on the DFW 11 additions.
The project was registered March 30, and construction is expected to finish March 2027.
Scott Friend, a resident in Ellis County just outside Red Oak, contributed to this report.