Texas residents fume over plans for a data center to be built next to their homes, school and a Buddhist monastery

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 18:43, 5 August 2026 | Updated: 18:43, 5 August 2026 Texas residents are in uproar over plans to build a massive new data center spanning next to a Buddhist monastery.  Westlake locals are opposing plans for the Circle T Data Center that is set to be built next to Wat Buddharatanaram monastery off of Highway 377. 'I think the biggest concern is that we really don't know what we're dealing with,' Maechee Sarah Hudson, a nun at the monastery, told NBC 5.  'This space offers me a space to reflect on what's really important in life.' The town's Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the plans for the 1.1 million-square-foot data center on the almost 88-acre site on Tuesday. More than 100 people attended the four-hour long meeting while voicing concerns about the plan. 'We're not asking you to kill this project, we are asking you to move it,' Marshall Ridge resident Ben Buckwalter said, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 'Hillwood is owned by billionaires, they have plenty of land. So work with Hillwood, please move it, build it, just don't build it next to our homes, don't build it next to our elementary school.' Residents in the Town of Westlake are staunchly opposing plans for the Circle T Data Center, seen in a rendering, that is set to be built next to a Buddhist monastery off Highway 377 Wat Buddharatanaram, the Buddhist monastery, sits around 730 yards from the proposed site of the massive data center Hudson told the outlet that she was concerned that the center would disrupt the serenity of the monastery, and warned it could become a religious liberty issue.  'When there is a company that's wanting to come in, and that will have a negative impact on the surroundings, that includes us,' she said.  Maechee Sarah Hudson voiced concerns hat the center would disrupt the monastery 'So, if we are no longer able to provide a peaceful environment for others, that's then encroaching on our First Amendment right. 'It would impact our daily way of life for sure... It's not something that you can buy or borrow or inherit or download. And we need to place importance on protecting the places that value cultivating that peace from within.' Hudson expressed worries of noise pollution and the center's proximity to the religious site.  'Our concern is, one, the noise. Two, what health impacts it may have on people in this neighborhood. And three, what everyone's really worried about, how it's negatively going to impact our property value,' Kevin Myers, a local resident, told NBC 5.  Myers admitted that he wasn't opposed to data centers in general, but asked that the plans be put on hold pending further research.  The Tuesday evening meeting saw many opposers shouting 'shame,' while others made comments including, 'Y'all are disgusting' and 'Unbelieve, how neighborly of you,' according to the Star-Telegram.  Despite local outcry, the town's Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the plans for the 1.1 million-square-foot data center on the almost 88-acre site on Tuesday evening The town's approval of the plans cited that the property is privately owned and governed by a Planned Development District that would allow the land to be used for a data center by right Keller's former mayor Mark Mathews, who lives near the proposed site for the center, told the Star-Telegram that he wasn't shocked by the plans approval but said the next step would be to explore legal options. According to a GoFundMe set up to help with the legal costs of opposing the center, residents said that some homes sit just 500 feet from the proposed site and it is set to be built less than half a mile from Ridgeview Elementary School.  'These families are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for a fair opportunity to protect their homes, their neighborhood and their quality of life,' the fundraiser said.  Stephanie Rodriguez, a mother of two children who attend Ridgeview Elementary, told the Star-Telegram that she was worried about how close the center would be to the school.  'We do not know the health impact these centers can cause, and I am not willing to volunteer my children to be the guinea pigs based off of another city's decision to place it in our city line within yards of our school with young children,' she said.  'Perhaps they can consider moving it safely away from both their school and neighboring schools.' Rodriguez further noted concerns of noise, lighting, traffic and 'the loss of the peaceful residential character that drew us here in the first place.' The town's approval of the plans cited that the property is privately owned and governed by a Planned Development District that would allow the land to be used for a data center by right, NBC 5 reported.  Outraged locals were urged by former Westlake planning commissioner Linda Bjorn to attend the next meeting with the Westlake city council, which will make the final decision 'As long as it's compliant with those provisions, then we felt that the site plan should be approved,' Deputy Town Manager Jason Alexander said.   Outraged locals were urged by former Westlake planning commissioner Linda Bjorn to attend the next meeting with the Westlake city council, which will make the final decision.  According to the town's website, which now includes a page dedicated to 'Westlake's Exciting New Development,' the center would not raise water or electricity bills for locals.  The page also promised that the noise level wouldn't rise about the level of a household refrigerator from 7pm to 7am, traffic would be minimal and there are plans to plant 4,000 native trees and bushes along the property's perimeter, the Dallas Morning News reported.  'Our residents expect thoughtful planning, transparency, and a commitment to protecting what makes Westlake such a special place to call home,' Westlake Mayor Kim Greaves said on the town's site.  'This project has been carefully evaluated to ensure it meets our high standards while providing meaningful long-term benefits for our community.' Patricia Myers told the outlet before Tuesday's meeting that 'this isn't a politics issue.' 'It's a humanity issue,' she said, with her husband, Kevin, adding: 'Build your center, that's fine. But give us the same courtesy as your residents.' The Daily Mail contacted the Town of Westlake for comment.