Fort Worth data-center pause remains pending after first hearing

Fort Worth’s proposed 90-day pause on new data-center development remains pending after City Council held the first public hearing in the process Nov. 10, 2026. The hearing did not enact a moratorium, so the proposal has not changed development rules.

If adopted, the ordinance would pause covered new data-center development for 90 days. For developers, the proposal is not described as a freeze on every project: the city’s FAQ says vested or approved projects, and projects with zoning applications already submitted, would not be covered.

CBS Texas reported that dozens of residents raised concerns at the hearing about potential environmental, quality-of-life and development-pace effects. Those were concerns about possible impacts, not findings that those impacts had occurred. CBS Texas also reported that one resident worried a temporary pause could simply delay development unless it led to lasting action.

The commission’s recommendations are not city rules i

The Data Center & Infrastructure Commission presented its final report to the council on Nov. 10. It contains 19 recommendations covering electricity and energy reliability, water use and local resources, land use and neighborhood impacts, and economic impacts.

The commission is advisory and has no authority to set city policy or approve projects. Its recommendations do not change development rules unless the city takes separate action. CBS Texas reported that commission chair Michael Slattery referred to about 1,500 surveys returned to the city; that figure does not establish that all residents share a particular view.

City lists two tentative adoption dates i

The city tentatively lists a second public hearing and first reading for Jan. 12, 2027. Its main schedule lists a second reading and possible adoption vote for Feb. 23, while the FAQ says adoption is tentatively set for Feb. 16. The dates are tentative, and the city webpage does not reconcile the conflict. The city says adoption would require a supermajority vote.