A discussion in a Seagoville community Facebook group has sparked concern among residents this week over a possible data center project in the city.
Some community members pointed to city documents that show the project was already approved. Sitting council members say no such approval currently exists.
According to comments posted in the Facebook group, one local woman shared what she described as an excerpt from Seagoville City Council meeting minutes dated November 18, 2024. The excerpt, as quoted in the group discussion, references Item 17 on that meeting’s agenda.
That item is described as a public hearing to consider an ordinance amending the city’s zoning map for approximately 138.004 acres of land, commonly known as 1900 East Farmers Road. The change would move the zoning from Agricultural to a Planned Development with a base zoning of Light Manufacturing that would allow data center use.
According to the quoted minutes, the motion was made by the Mayor Pro Tem with an amendment prohibiting crypto and bitcoin mining. The motion passed by a vote of 5 to 0 and was recorded as Ordinance No. 2024 26.
Seagoville City Council members Harold Magill and Jon Epps responded directly to residents in the group discussion. Both stated that they do not support bringing a data center to the city.
According to Magill, in comments posted to the Facebook group, “Nothing has been approved. I have been following the data center issue for two years around America. There are too many negatives to have one in Seagoville.” Magill cited concerns about constant noise, high power usage, and water consumption for cooling.
Magill also said in the discussion that constructing a data center on the property would prevent the extension of Farmers Road to the west side of Seagoville. He said that extension would otherwise give residents better access to the city’s central business district.
In a separate comment posted to the group, Magill wrote that he had received word from the city manager that day stating there is nothing currently scheduled regarding data centers. Epps, responding in the same discussion, wrote simply, “No Data Center coming.”
The exchange in the Facebook group reflected a broader back and forth among residents over whether the project had already been formally approved. One local man in the discussion argued that decisions on data centers are governed primarily through zoning law rather than a public vote.
He wrote that as long as a property is purchased and zoning requirements are met, a project of this kind can move forward regardless of resident approval. Other residents in the group raised concerns about potential increases to water and electricity rates.
Several residents also questioned in the discussion why they had not received direct notice of a related city council meeting.
According to the meeting minutes quoted in the discussion, city staff addressed resident concerns about noise during the original 2024 hearing. Staff stated that decibel readings from a data center located in Red Oak were significantly lower than the city’s operational noise limit of 65 dBA measured from the property line.
The minutes also state that the Seagoville Police Department considers 87 decibels to constitute a nuisance. A portion of the property would be dedicated toward future roadway improvements, and the site would be monitored 24 hours a day for safety, according to the quoted minutes.
Shop in Seagoville was not able to independently confirm the current status of the ordinance referenced in the community discussion at the time of publication. Residents with questions about the project are encouraged to contact Seagoville City Hall directly.
