> At a Glance
> – Black Mountain seeks to rezone 40 more acres for its $10 billion data center campus
> – Forest Hill neighbors fear power outages, water strain, and sinking home values
> – Mayor wants shared planning seat with Fort Worth to protect her city
> – Why it matters: Residents say the expansion turns their retirement haven into an industrial backyard
Black Mountain’s latest request to shift nearly 40 acres from agricultural to light-industrial zoning has reignited anxiety along LonStephenson Road, where Helen Collins Epps and other seniors learned of the $10 billion data-center build-out only weeks ago.
Neighbors Sound the Alarm
Collins Epps says the December community meeting felt like an ambush:
- “We all flipped out. All of us flipped out. We didn’t know what to do.”
- She worries electricity and water can’t handle the load.
- The retired realtor claims her home value has already dropped.
> “I’ve been frustrated. I’ve been angry. I’ve been disappointed, and I’ve been confused.”
City Leaders Want a Seat at the Table
Mayor Stephanie Boardingham says Forest Hill was left out of Fort Worth’s earlier approvals and lists new headaches:
- Rolling blackouts during storms
- Chronic flooding
- Crumbling LonStephenson Road already jammed with traffic
> “Are they going to be good partners with us on Lon Stephenson for the safety of the community?”
What the 40 Acres Could Hold
Black Mountain’s filing lists the tract for “supporting uses” beyond servers:
- Health-care facilities
- Recreational and religious buildings
- Utilities, grocery, office, retail
CEO Rhett Bennett told News Of Fort Worth the zoning simply aligns the entire 450-acre campus under one designation and moves buildings farther from neighbors. He promised road-upgrade money, noting the project is “one of the largest economic developments to ever come to Fort Worth.”
Key Dates
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Zoning Commission | January 14 |
| Fort Worth City Council | February 10 |
Boardingham and the city manager plan to attend both meetings and are asking for:
- A tour of an operating data center
- Joint planning talks to protect Everman and Forest Hill services
- Details on fire and utility substations
Key Takeaways
- Black Mountain’s 40-acre rezone would butt the industrial campus directly against Forest Hill
- Residents fear power, water, and traffic overloads the small city can’t absorb
- Forest Hill leaders want formal input in Fort Worth’s approval process
- The zoning commission votes January 14, with City Council finalizing the decision February 10
Collins Epps sums up the neighborhood mood: “You read these stories, you read about them, but you never think they’re going to come home.”
